Uplink control information transmitting method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an uplink control information transmitting method and apparatus. In the method, when a user equipment (UE) is configured with an uplink carrier in an unlicensed spectrum, the UE transmits uplink control information through a pre-defined location and a pre-defined format in a licensed spectrum and/or a pre-defined location and a pre-defined format in an idle unlicensed spectrum according to an uplink (UL) grant transmitted from a base station and the UCI to be transmitted. According to the technical solution provided by the present invention, the UCI is flexibly transmitted in the licensed spectrum or in the idle unlicensed spectrum, thereby improving transmission efficiency and reducing impact on downlink signal scheduling when the UE is configured with the uplink carrier in the unlicensed spectrum and transmits the UCI, and further improving LTE network efficiency.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to mobile communication fields, and moreparticularly, to an uplink control information transmitting method andapparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

Sharply-increased high speed broadband wireless service requirements ofUser Equipments (UE) and scarce spectrum resources are acutelyconflicting. Mobile operators start considering unlicensed spectrums assupplement of licensed spectrums. Researches of deploying Long TermEvolution (LTE) on unlicensed spectrums are put on agendas. Theresearches have been started by 3GPP, that carriers respectively inunlicensed spectrums and licensed spectrums are efficiently aggregatedto dramatically improve spectrum utilization in a whole network on thepremise that other technologies used for the unlicensed spectrums arenot insignificantly affected.

The unlicensed spectrums usually have been used for other purposes, suchas radars or WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) of 802.11 series. Thus,interference in the unlicensed spectrums is uncertain, which will causethat Quality of Service (QoS) for LTE is hardly guaranteed. However, theunlicensed spectrums can be used for data transmission with low QoSrequirements. LTE system can be deployed on unlicensed spectrums. TheLTE system deployed on unlicensed spectrums is referred to as LTE-Usystem. Devices in LTE-U system (e.g. UEs) are configured with multiplecarriers, wherein the multiple carriers include carriers in theunlicensed spectrums and carriers in the licensed spectrums. Devices inLTE-U system (e.g., base stations) can work on multiple carriers,wherein the multiple carriers include carriers in the unlicensedspectrums and carriers in the licensed spectrums. It is a key problemhow to avoid interference between LTE-U system and another wirelesssystem (e.g., radars or WiFi) on unlicensed spectrums. Clear channelassessment (CCA) is widely used as a collision avoidance strategy inunlicensed spectrums. A STA has to detect a wireless channel beforetransmitting a signal. The STA occupies the wireless channel to transmitthe signal when detecting that the wireless channel is idle. In LTE-Usystem, a similar mechanism as that of the STA is also in demand toensure that interference is always weak for other signals. According toa simple method, the device in LTE-U system (e.g., the UE or the basestation) is dynamically opened or closed according to a CCA result. Inparticular, the device transmits the signal when detecting the channelis idle, and does not transmit the signal when detecting the channel isbusy.

In current LTE system, uplink scheduling and downlink scheduling areusually determined by the base station. For uplink transmission, a basestation transmits a scheduling indicator at n, e.g., an uplink (UL)grant including resource allocation information for UE uplinktransmission etc. According to the scheduling indicator, a UE transmitsan uplink signal at n+k. For example, the UE transmits the uplink signalthrough Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) or Physical Random AccessChannel (PRACH). For downlink transmission, the base station transmits ascheduling indicator, e.g., a downlink (DL) assignment at n. The UEdetects the scheduling indicator at n, and receives a downlink signal atn according to the scheduling indicator. For example, the UE receivesthe downlink signal through Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH).

When the UE has transmission in the unlicensed spectrum, the UEdetermines whether the uplink signal can be transmitted at n+k accordingto a CCA result at n+k.

In current LTE system, uplink control information (UCI) includesAcknowledgement/Negative Acknowledgement (ACK/NACK), a SchedulingRequest (SR), a periodic Channel State Information (CSI) and anaperiodic CSI. The UCI can be carried on Physical Uplink Control Channel(PUCCH) or on PUSCH. When the UE is configured with multiple carriers,there are two conditions for UCI transmission according to whether theUE is configured to have simultaneous PUCCH and PUSCH transmission.

In a first condition, the UE is not configured to have simultaneousPUCCH and PUSCH transmission.

When the UE does not transmit the PUSCH, the UCI is carried throughPUCCH format 1/1 a/1 b/3 or 2/2 a/2 b.

When the UCI includes the aperiodic CSI or when the UCI includes theaperiodic CSI and the ACK/NACK, the UCI is carried on the PUSCHscheduled through Downlink Control Information (DCI) including anaperiodic CSI trigger request.

When the UCI includes the periodic CSI and/or the ACK/NACK and the PUSCHis transmitted on a Primary cell (Pcell), the UCI is carried on thePUSCH on the Pcell. When the PUSCH is scheduled by a random accessresponse or when a transmission block is re-transmitted on the PUSCH ina content-based random access process, the UCI is not carried on thePUSCH.

When the UCI includes the periodic CSI and/or the ACK/NACK and the PUSCHis not transmitted on the Pcell but is transmitted on a Secondary cell(Scell), the UCI is carried on the PUSCH on a Scell with a smallestSecondary cell Index (SCellIndex) in all Scells on which the PUSCH istransmitted.

In a second condition, the UE is not configured to have simultaneousPUCCH and PUSCH transmission.

When the UCI only includes the ACK/NACK and/or the SR, the UCI iscarried through PUCCH format 1/1 a/1 b/3.

When the UCI only includes the periodic CSI, the UCI is carried throughPUCCH format 2.

When the UCI includes the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK and the PUSCH isnot transmitted, the UCI is carried on PUCCH (details specified in TS36.213 10.1.1).

When the UCI includes the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK and the PUSCH istransmitted on the Pcell, the ACK/NACK is carried through PUCCH format 1a/1 b/3, and the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH on the Pcell. Whenthe PUSCH is scheduled by the random access response or when thetransmission block is re-transmitted on the PUSCH in the content-basedrandom access process, the UCI is not carried on the PUSCH.

When the UCI includes the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK and the PUSCH isnot transmitted on the Pcell but is transmitted on Scells, the ACK/NACKis transmitted on the PUCCH format 1 a/1 b/3, and the periodic CSI iscarried on the PUSCH on the Scell with the smallest SCellIndex in theScells on which the PUSCH is transmitted.

The UCI includes the aperiodic CSI, the ACK/NACK and the SR, theACK/NACK and the SR are carried through PUCCH format 1/1 a/1 b/3, theaperiodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH scheduled through the DCIincluding the aperiodic CSI trigger request.

In LTE-U system, when the UE does not transmit the PUSCH on the Pcell,according to current specifications, the UE selects the PUSCH on theScell with the smallest SCellIndex to carry all or some UCI. Thus, thePUSCH in the unlicensed spectrum may be selected to carry the UCI. Sincethe UE can transmit the uplink signal in the unlicensed spectrum onlywhen a channel is idle, the UE may not transmit the UCI, or the basestation has to increase times of blind detection to determine the PUSCHcarrying the UCI.

In some countries and regions, a device in LTE-U system can directlytransmits signals in a certain density without the CCA, which isreferred to as a short control signalling. For example, the device cantransmit signals at most in 2.5 ms per 50 ms, which is not nearly enoughfor the UCI. Further, although a LTE-U terminal can be directly feed acontrol signal (e.g., ACK) to a LTE-U control node without CCA aftersuccessfully receiving data from the LTE-U control node inspecifications of some countries and regions, the process above have tobe completed in a maximum occupancy time. Moreover, this mechanism aboveonly contain a condition that the LTE-U terminal successful receivesdata, while the LTE system further supports NACK feedback when the datais not successfully demodulated to improve Hybrid Automatic RepeatRequest (HARD) performance. Further, if the maximum occupancy time isshort, e.g., 4 ms specified in Japan, the ACK/NACK in LTE system cannotbe fed back in the maximum occupancy time. For example, the LTE-Ucontrol node transmits data at n, the LTE-U terminal feeds the ACK/NACKat n+4. The whole process takes 5 ms, which exceeds the maximumoccupancy time. Moreover, in LTE system, besides the ACK/NACK, CSIindependently transmitted from data is further included in the UCI.

Further, in prior art, the UE considers that the base station cantrigger the aperiodic CSI to obtain more plentiful information than theperiodic CSI. Thus, when there are the periodic CSI and aperiodic CSI ina same subframe, the UE discards periodic CSI transmission, and onlytransmits the aperiodic CSI. However, when the aperiodic CSI report fora carrier in the unlicensed spectrum is triggered in the LTE-U system,two conditions may occur. In a first condition, since the base stationmay not occupy the channel in the unlicensed spectrum over a long periodof time, the UE cannot obtain a CSI measurement result, and cannotreport the aperiodic CSI accordingly. For example, it may be specifiedthat when there is no valid CSI measurement in N ms, even thoughreceiving the aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling, the UE does notreport the aperiodic CSI, wherein N is a natural number. In a secondcondition, since an unlicensed carrier carrying the aperiodic CSI isbusy, the UE cannot transmit the PUSCH and the aperiodic CSI. In thistwo conditions, if the UE reports the valid periodic CSI, the UE canuses the periodic CSI as a better scheduling reference.

In addition, in an aperiodic CSI measurement and report process in theLTE-U system, the UE may have already calculated and updated the CSImeasurement result. However, since the channel is busy in the subframewhere the CSI is reported, the UE may not transmit the CSI, therebyconsuming UE calculation capability. In practice, a UE processingcapability is limited, i.e., the number of CSI processes calculated bythe UE is limited. Further, when the number of CSI processes to beupdated exceeds the UE processing capability, the UE has to calculate orupdate a part of the CSI processes according to priorities, and discardsCSI calculation for other CSI processes. If the calculated and updatedCSI processes are not transmitted, the UE calculation efficiency isreduced. Further, if the UE has calculated and updated a CSI processwith a high priority but there is no valid CSI report resource for theCSI process, the UE calculation efficiency is reduced.

Further, in the LTE-system, whether the CSI report resource istransmitted relies on a downlink LBT result. In particular, the CSIreport resource is dynamically transmitted. Thus, it is not uncertainwhether the UE can obtain the valid CSI measurement result at a certainpoint. However, an existing set corresponding to the aperiodic CSIreport is semi-statically configured, and is not changed according tothe CSI report resource. Thus, the set corresponding to the triggeredaperiodic CSI report may include valid CSI measurement results andinvalid CSI measurement results, thereby reducing aperiodic CSI reportefficiency.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

According to existing unlicensed spectrum technical solutions, the UCIcannot be efficiently transmitted in LTE system. Thus, technicalproblems to be solved are to implement efficient UCI transmission on anuplink carrier in the unlicensed spectrum and to implement uplinksynchronization establishment.

It should be noted that the foregoing descriptions in the background aremerely to clearly and completely illustrate technical solutions of thepresent disclosure, and to facilitate understanding of the presentinvention for those skilled in the art. Just because technical solutionsare illustrated in the background of the present invention does not makethe technical solutions common knowledge for those skilled in the art.

Solution to Problem

The present invention provides uplink control information transmittingmethods, so as to improve transmission efficiency and reduce impact ondownlink signal scheduling when the UE is configured with the uplinkcarrier in the unlicensed spectrum and transmits the UCI.

The present invention provides uplink control information transmittingapparatuses, so as to improve transmission efficiency and reduce impacton downlink signal scheduling when the UE is configured with the uplinkcarrier in the unlicensed spectrum and transmits the UCI.

The present invention provides an uplink control informationtransmitting method, applying to a UE configured with an uplink carrierin an unlicensed spectrum, including:

detecting, by the UE, a UL grant from a base station;

transmitting, by the UE, UCI through a pre-defined location and apre-defined format in a licensed spectrum and/or a pre-defined locationand a pre-defined format in an idle unlicensed spectrum according to theUL grant and the UCI to be transmitted.

The present invention provides an uplink control informationtransmission controlling method, applying to a user equipment (UE)configured with an uplink carrier in an licensed spectrum, including:

performing, by a base station, secondary cell index (SCellIndex )configuration for a secondary carrier, wherein when the base stationconfigures multiple carriers for a UE, the base station configures thata SCellIndex of a carrier in a licensed spectrum is smaller than aSCellIndex of any carrier in an unlicensed spectrum, or performsscheduling configuration for the UE, wherein the schedulingconfiguration includes preferably scheduling transmission on a carrierin a licensed spectrum in an uplink subframe where the UE has apossibility to transmit UCI, or preferably scheduling transmission on alicensed carrier for triggered aperiodic Channel State Information (CSI)when the base station triggers the UE to transmit the aperiodic CSI;

transmitting, by the base station, a SCellIndex configuration signallingaccording to the configuration, or transmitting an uplink (UL) grantaccording to the configuration.

The present invention provides an uplink control informationtransmission controlling base station, including:

a configuring module, to perform secondary cell index (SCellIndex )configuration for a secondary carrier, wherein when the base stationconfigures multiple carriers for a UE, the base station configures thata SCellIndex of a carrier in a licensed spectrum is smaller than aSCellIndex of any carrier in an unlicensed spectrum, or performsscheduling configuration for the UE, wherein the schedulingconfiguration includes preferably scheduling transmission on a carrierin a licensed spectrum in an uplink subframe where the UE has apossibility to transmit UCI, or preferably scheduling transmission on alicensed carrier for triggered aperiodic Channel State Information (CSI)when the base station triggers the UE to transmit the aperiodic CSI;

a transmitting module, to transmit a SCellIndex configuration signallingaccording to the configuration, or transmit a uplink (UL) grantaccording to the configuration.

It can be seen from the above technical solution that, when the UE isconfigured with an uplink carrier in an unlicensed spectrum, the UEtransmits uplink control information through a pre-defined location anda pre-defined format in a licensed spectrum and/or a pre-definedlocation and a pre-defined format in an idle unlicensed spectrumaccording to an uplink (UL) grant transmitted from a base station andthe UCI to be transmitted. According to the technical solution providedby the present invention, the UCI is flexibly transmitted in thelicensed spectrum or in the idle unlicensed spectrum, thereby improvingtransmission efficiency and reducing impact on downlink signalscheduling when the UE is configured with the uplink carrier in theunlicensed spectrum and transmits the UCI, and further improving LTEnetwork efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an uplink control informationtransmitting method according to an embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an uplinkcontrol information transmitting apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present application;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an uplink control informationtransmitting method according to a first embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a first methodaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first example of a secondmethod according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second example of a secondmethod according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a third example of a secondmethod according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first example of a thirdmethod according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second example of a thirdmethod according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a fourthmethod according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an uplink control informationtransmitting first method according to a second embodiment of thepresent application;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a first mannerin a first method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first example of a secondmanner in a first method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second example of a secondmanner in a first method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first example of a thirdmanner in a first method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second example of a thirdmanner in a first method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an uplink control informationtransmitting second method according to a second embodiment of thepresent application;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a first mannerin a second method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a secondmanner in a second method according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first example of a thirdmanner in a second method according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second example of a thirdmanner in a second method according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a fourthmanner in a second method according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an uplink control informationtransmitting third method according to a second embodiment of thepresent application;

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a first mannerin a third method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second example of a thirdmanner in a third method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram illustrating a third example of a thirdmanner in a third method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an uplink control informationtransmitting fourth method according to a second embodiment of thepresent application;

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a first mannerin a fourth method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a secondmanner in a fourth method according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a first implementing manner of amethod in FIG. 1 applying to a first scenario according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a second implementing manner of amethod in FIG. 1 applying to a first scenario according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a first implementing manner of amethod in FIG. 1 applying to a second scenario according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating a second implementing manner of amethod in FIG. 1 applying to a second scenario according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating an uplink control informationtransmission controlling method according to an embodiment of thepresent application;

FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an uplinkcontrol information transmission controlling base station according toan embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating an aperiodic CSI measurement andreport method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 37 is a schematic diagram illustrating a subframe structure in afirst example to determine when the UE has calculated but does notreport CSI of a CSI process, whether the UE re-updates the CSI processaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 38 is a schematic diagram illustrating a subframe structure in asecond example to determine when the UE has calculated but does notreport CSI of a CSI process, whether the UE re-updates the CSI processaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 39 is a schematic diagram illustrating a subframe structure in athird example to determine when the UE has calculated but does notreport CSI of a CSI process in a condition with multiple carrier groups,whether the UE re-updates the CSI process according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram illustrating a subframe structure in afourth example to determine when the UE has calculated but does notreport CSI of a CSI process in a condition with multiple carrier groups,whether the UE re-updates the CSI process according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 41 is a schematic diagram illustrating a subframe structure in afifth example to determine when the UE has calculated but does notreport CSI of a CSI process in a condition with multiple carrier groups,whether the UE re-updates the CSI process according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second method fortransmitting a CSI report from a UE to a base station in a conditionwith multiple carriers according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in further detail hereinafterwith reference to accompanying drawings and embodiments to make theobjective, technical solution and merits therein clearer.

In order to improve transmission efficiency and reduce impact ondownlink signal scheduling when an unlicensed spectrum is used totransmit UCI, when the UE is configured with an uplink carrier in theunlicensed spectrum, the UE transmits the UCI through a pre-definedlocation and a pre-defined format in a licensed spectrum and/or apre-defined location and a pre-defined format in an idle unlicensedspectrum according to a UL grant transmitted from a base station and theUCI to be transmitted. According to the technical solution provided bythe present invention, the UCI is flexibly transmitted in the licensedspectrum or in the idle unlicensed spectrum, thereby improvingtransmission efficiency and reducing impact on downlink signalscheduling when the UE is configured with the uplink carrier in theunlicensed spectrum and transmits the UCI, and further improving LTEnetwork efficiency.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an uplink control informationtransmitting method according to an embodiment of the presentapplication. The UE is configured with an uplink carrier in anunlicensed spectrum. As shown in FIG. 1, the method includes proceduresas follow.

At block 101, the UE detects an UL grant transmitted from a basestation.

At block 102, the UE transmits UCI through a pre-defined location and apre-defined format in a licensed spectrum and/or a pre-defined locationand a pre-defined format in an idle unlicensed spectrum according to theUL grant and the UCI to be transmitted.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an uplinkcontrol information transmitting apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present application. As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus includes areceiving module, a detecting module, a determining module and a UCItransmitting module.

The receiving module is to receive a UL grant from a base station.

The detecting module is to detect the UL grant.

The determining module is to determine a configured uplink carrier in anunlicensed carrier.

The UCI transmitting module is to transmit UCI through a pre-definedlocation and a pre-defined format in a licensed spectrum and/or apre-defined location and a pre-defined format in an idle unlicensedspectrum according to the UL grant and the UCI to be transmitted.

In order to improve the method as shown in FIG. 1, three embodiments areillustrated as follows.

First Embodiment

Methods in the first embodiment apply to a UE configured to havesimultaneous PUCCH and PUSCH transmission. FIG. 3 is a flowchartillustrating an uplink control information transmitting method accordingto a first embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 3,the method includes procedures as follow.

At block 301, the UE receives an UL grant from a base station.

In this block, the UE detects the UL grant transmitted from the basestation.

At block 302 a , when the UE determines a carrier with a smallestSCellIndex in the detected UL grant is an unlicensed carrier accordingto the UL grant, the UE does not detect the UL grant scheduling a PUSCHof a Pcell or a sPcell, and UCI includes ACK/NACK and periodic CSI, orwhen the UE determines the carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in thedetected UL grant is the unlicensed carrier according to the UL grant,the UE does not detect the UL grant scheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell orthe sPcell, there is no determined PUSCH, and the UCI includes ACK/NACKand the periodic CSI, or

when a carrier with a smallest SCellIndex in carriers determined to beused for PUSCH transmission is the unlicensed carrier, the UE does notdetect the UL grant scheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell or the sPcell, andthe UCI includes the ACK/NACK and the periodic CSI, or when the carrierwith the smallest SCellIndex in the carriers determined to be used forPUSCH transmission is the unlicensed carrier, the UE does not detect theUL grant scheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell or the sPcell, there is nodetermined PUSCH, and the UCI includes the ACK/NACK and the periodicCSI, procedures in block 302 a are performed. Otherwise, procedures inblock 302 b are performed.

In this block, for example, when there is neither non-adaptiveretransmission nor Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS) transmission on thePUSCH in subframe n+k, there is no determined PUSCH.

In this block, for example, when there is the non-adaptiveretransmission or the SPS transmission on the PUSCH in subframe n+k,there is the determined PUSCH.

Procedures in block 302 b may be performed in two manners. In a manner,when the UE detects that the PUSCH may not be transmitted in any uplinkcarrier and the UCI includes the ACK/NACK and the periodic CSI,procedures in block 302 bb are performed. In another manner, the UEdirectly transmits the PUSCH according to the UL grant, i.e., performingprocedures in block 302 bc .

At block 302 a , after the UE performs clear channel assessment (CCA)for a carrier corresponding to the detected UL grant in the unlicensedspectrum or for a carrier determined by the UE to transmit the scheduledPUSCH in the unlicensed spectrum, the UE transmits the UCI according toone of four methods as follows.

In a first method, the UE transmits the UCI carried on the PUCCH on thePcell or the sPcell, and/or transmits the scheduled PUSCH on a carrierin a licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on an idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum.

In a second method, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI inthe licensed spectrum and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on the idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum; or if there is no scheduled PUSCH inthe licensed spectrum, the UE transmits the UCI carried the PUCCH on thePcell or the sPcell, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on the idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum; or if there is no scheduled PUSCH inthe licensed spectrum, the UE does not transmit the UCI, and onlytransmits the scheduled PUSCH on the idle carrier in the unlicensedspectrum.

In a third method, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI inthe licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on the idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum; or if there is no scheduled PUSCH inlicensed spectrum, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI onthe idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum.

In a fourth method, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI onthe idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduledPUSCH in the licensed spectrum.

In this present invention, the PUCCH may have a newly-defined PUCCHformat, e.g., an existing PUSCH format. For example, a convolutionalcode and Cyclical Redundancy Check (CRC) are used, and time-frequencymapping is in accordance with an existing PUSCH time-frequency mappingrule. However, PUSCH resource is not determined according to thereal-time UL grant. In particular, the PUSCH resource is calculatedaccording to a preset rule, or is configured through a higher layersignalling. The PUCCH in the present invention is still called as PUCCH.Alternatively, the PUCCH may be based on an existing PUCCH signalstructure, but may have a newly-defined PUCCH format. Alternatively, aPUCCH format in existing specifications may be reused, e.g., PUCCHformat 2 a/2 b/3.

The four methods above are described in detail as follows.

In the first method, the UE transmits the UCI carried on the PUCCH onthe Pcell or the sPcell, and/or transmits the scheduled PUSCH on acarrier in a licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on anidle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum. In particular, the first methodmay be performed as follows.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a first methodaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 4, the ACK/NACK and periodic CSI are carried on the PUCCH on thePcell or the sPcell, the PUSCH only including an Uplink Shared Channel(UL-SCH) is transmitted on the scheduled idle carrier in the unlicensedspectrum, and the PUSCH only including the UL-SCH is transmitted on thescheduled carrier in the licensed spectrum when there is the scheduledPUSCH in the licensed spectrum.

The PUCCH may have a newly-defined PUCCH format, e.g., an existing PUSCHformat. For example, a convolutional code and Cyclical Redundancy Check(CRC) are used, and time-frequency mapping is in accordance with anexisting PUSCH time-frequency mapping rule. However, PUSCH resource isnot determined according to the real-time UL grant. In particular, thePUSCH resource is calculated according to a preset rule, or isconfigured through a higher layer signalling. The PUCCH in the presentinvention is still called as PUCCH. Alternatively, the PUCCH may bebased on an existing PUCCH signal structure, but may have anewly-defined PUCCH format. Alternatively, a PUCCH format in existingspecifications may be reused, e.g., PUCCH format 2 a/2 b/3.

Alternatively, according to a total load of the ACK/NACK and theperiodic CSI, the PUCCH is selected to carry both the ACK/NACK and theperiodic CSI, or the PUCCH is selected to carry the ACK/NACK and thePUSCH is selected to carry the periodic CSI. The PUSCH carrying theperiodic CSI may be selected according to prior art, e.g., a componentcarrier (CC) with a smallest SCellIndex is selected to carry theperiodic CSI. Alternatively, the PUSCH carrying the periodic CSI may beselected according to a method provided by the present invention. Forexample, if the total bit number of the ACK/NACK, a Scheduling Request(SR) (if the SR exists) and the CSI is not more than a preset X, e.g.,22 bits, the ACK/NACK and the periodic CSI are carried in the PUCCH,otherwise, the ACK/NACK is carried in the PUCCH and the periodic CSI iscarried in the PUSCH.

In the second method, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCIin the licensed spectrum and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on the idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum; or if there is no scheduled PUSCH inthe licensed spectrum, the UE transmits the PUCCH carrying the UCI onthe Pcell or the sPcell, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on the idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum; or if there is no scheduled PUSCH inthe licensed spectrum, the UE does not transmit the UCI, and onlytransmits the scheduled PUSCH on the idle carrier in the unlicensedspectrum. In particular, the second method may be performed as follows.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first example of a secondmethod according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 5, if the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH, the PUSCHcarrying the periodic CSI is only transmitted on a carrier in thelicensed spectrum, wherein the carrier has the smallest SCellIndex inthe licensed spectrum. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating asecond example of a second method according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 6, if there is no PUSCH transmissionin the licensed spectrum, the UE discards the periodic CSI transmission.FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a third example of a secondmethod according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 7, both the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK are carried onthe PUCCH transmitted on the Pcell or the sPcell.

In this manner, even if SCellIndex of an uplink carrier used fortransmission in the unlicensed spectrum is smaller than SCellIndex ofany uplink carrier used for transmission in the licensed spectrum, thePUSCH on the uplink carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the licensedspectrum is still selected to carry the periodic CSI.

The base station may preferably schedule the PUSCH on the licensedspectrum in a subframe where the ACK/NACK and the periodic CSI may befed back so as to reduce an occurrence probability of conditions in FIG.6 or 7.

In the third method, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI inthe licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on the idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum; or the UE transmits the scheduledPUSCH and the UCI on the idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum whenthere is no scheduled PUSCH in licensed spectrum. In particular, thethird method may be performed as follows.

The periodic CSI is preferably carried on the PUSCH transmitted on thecarrier in the licensed spectrum, wherein the carrier on which the PUSCHis transmitted has the smallest SCellIndex in carriers in the licensedspectrum.

When there is no PUSCH transmission in the licensed spectrum, theperiodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH transmitted in the unlicensedspectrum according to a preset rule. For example, FIG. 8 is a schematicdiagram illustrating a first example of a third method according to afirst embodiment of the present invention. In a condition as shown inFIG. 8, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH transmitted on thecarrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the unlicensed spectrum. FIG. 9is a schematic diagram illustrating a second example of a third methodaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention. In anothercondition as shown in FIG. 9, the period CSI is carried on PUSCHstransmitted on all carriers or pre-configured carriers in the unlicensedspectrum, wherein the periodic CSI carried on a PUSCH transmitted oneach of all the carriers or the pre-configured carriers in theunlicensed spectrum may be generated through performing a samemodulation-encoding-rate-matching processing for the original periodicCSI, or may be generated by performing differentmodulation-encoding-rate-matching processings for the original periodicCSI.

When the PUSCH in the unlicensed spectrum carries the periodic CSI, thePUSCH in the unlicensed spectrum further carries the indicationinformation to indicate on which carrier the PUSCH carries the periodicCSI. In particular, one of the following four manners may be used tocarry the indication information.

1) 1-bit information is carried through a Demodulation Reference Signal(DM-RS) to indicate whether the current PUSCH carries the periodic CSI.For example, different DM-RS sequences may be used to indicate whetherthe current PUSCH carries the periodic CSI. DM-RS sequence 1 indicatesthat the current PUSCH carries the periodic CSI, and DM-RS sequence 2indicate that the current PUSCH does not carry the periodic CSI. TheDM-RS sequence may be a spreading sequence, or a DM-RS base sequence.Alternatively, the DM-RS sequence is dot-multiplied to a modulationsymbol carrying the 1-bit information.

2) multiple-bit information is carried through the DM-RS to indicatewhich PUSCH carries the periodic CSI. The information respectivelycarried on PUSCHs transmitted on all carriers is same. For example,different DM-RS sequences may be used to indicate which PUSCH carriesthe periodic CSI, or a DM-RS sequence is respectively dot-multiplied todifferent modulation symbols.

3) 1-bit information is transmitted on a reversed location in a PUSCHresource element (RE) to indicate whether the current PUSCH carries theperiodic CSI. For example, the 1-bit information is transmitted in theclosest RE to the DM-RS. The 1-bit information is encoded, e.g., a RMencoding, a CRC encoding, or another encoding way, is modulated, e.g.,QPSK modulation, and then rate matching is performed, e.g., repeating.The information may be mapped to the PUSCH through puncturing the PUSCHor through performing rate matching for the PUSCH around the locationreversed for the information.

4) multiple-bit information is transmitted in a reversed location in aPUSCH RE to indicate which PUSCH carries the periodic CSI. Theinformation respectively carried on PUSCHs transmitted on all carriersis same. For example, the information is transmitted in the closest REto the DM-RS. The information is encoded, e.g., a RM encoding, a CRCencoding, or another encoding way, is modulated, e.g., QPSK modulation,and then rate matching is performed, e.g., repeating. The informationmay be mapped to the PUSCH through puncturing the PUSCH or throughperforming rate matching for the PUSCH around the location reversed forthe information.

In the third method, the base station may preferably schedule the PUSCHon the licensed spectrum in a subframe where the ACK/NACK and theperiodic CSI may be fed back so as to reduce a probability that theperiodic CSI is transmitted on the unlicensed spectrum.

In the fourth method, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCIon the idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum, and transmits thescheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum. In particular, the fourthmethod may be performed as follows.

The periodic CSI may be carried on the PUSCH transmitted on an uplinkcarrier with the smallest SCellIndex in uplink carriers used fortransmission. The PUSCH may further carry indication information toindicate on which carrier the PUSCH carries the periodic CSI.

The PUSCH on the uplink carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in carriersused for transmission is selected to carry the periodic CSI, wherein itis not distinguished whether the uplink carrier is in the unlicensedspectrum. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of afourth method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 10, when the PUSCH in the unlicensed spectrum carriesthe periodic CSI, the PUSCH in the unlicensed spectrum further carriesthe indication information to indicate on which carrier the PUSCHcarries the periodic CSI. In particular, one of the following fourmanners may be used to carry the indication information.

1) 1-bit information is carried through a Demodulation Reference Signal(DM-RS) to indicate whether the current PUSCH carries the periodic CSI.For example, different DM-RS sequences may be used to indicate whetherthe current PUSCH carries the periodic CSI. DM-RS sequence 1 indicatesthat the current PUSCH carries the periodic CSI, and DM-RS sequence 2indicate that the current PUSCH does not carry the periodic CSI. TheDM-RS sequence may be a spreading sequence, or a DM-RS base sequence.Alternatively, the DM-RS sequence is dot-multiplied to a modulationsymbol carrying the 1-bit information.

2) multiple-bit information is carried through the DM-RS to indicatewhich PUSCH carries the periodic CSI. The information respectivelycarried on PUSCHs transmitted on all carriers is same. For example,different DM-RS sequences may be used to indicate which PUSCH carriesthe periodic CSI, or a DM-RS sequence is respectively dot-multiplied todifferent modulation symbols.

3) 1-bit information is transmitted on a reversed location in a PUSCH REto indicate whether the current PUSCH carries the periodic CSI. Forexample, the information is transmitted in the closest RE to the DM-RS.The 1-bit information is encoded, e.g., a RM encoding, a CRC encoding,or another encoding way, is modulated, e.g., QPSK modulation, and thenrate matching is performed, e.g., repeating. The information may bemapped to the PUSCH through puncturing the PUSCH or through performingrate matching for the PUSCH around the location reversed for theinformation.

4) multiple-bit information is transmitted in a reversed location in aPUSCH RE to indicate which PUSCH carries the periodic CSI. Theinformation respectively carried on PUSCHs on all carriers is same. Forexample, the information is transmitted in the closest RE to the DM-RS.The information is encoded, e.g., a RM encoding, a CRC encoding, oranother encoding way, is modulated, e.g., QPSK modulation, and then ratematching is performed, e.g., repeating. The information may be mapped tothe PUSCH through puncturing the PUSCH or through performing ratematching for the PUSCH around the location reversed for the information.

In the fourth method, the base station may allocate a small SCellIndexfor a carrier in the licensed spectrum, may allocate a large SCellIndexfor a carrier in the unlicensed spectrum, and may preferably schedulethe PUSCH on the licensed spectrum in a subframe where the ACK/NACK andthe periodic CSI may be fed back so as to reduce a probability that theperiodic CSI is transmitted on the unlicensed spectrum

At block 302 bb, when the UCI includes the ACK/NACK and the period CSIand the UE does transmit the PUSCH on any uplink carrier, the UEtransmits the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell, and the ACK/NACK and theperiod CSI are carried in the PUCCH.

At block 302 bc, the UE transmits the PUSCH according to the detected ULgrant.

In this block, if the carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in thedetected UL grant is the unlicensed carrier and there is no determinedPUSCH to be transmitted on the Pcell and/or the sPcell or if the carrierwith the smallest SCellIndex in carriers determined by the UE to be usedfor PUSCH transmission is the unlicensed carrier and there is nodetermined PUSCH to be transmitted on the Pcell and/or the sPcell, theUE firstly perform the CCA estimation. Only when the carrier is idle,the UE transmits the PUSCH and the UCI on the carrier. Otherwise the UEdiscards or delays UCI transmission. If the carrier with the smallestSCellIndex in the detected UL grant is the licensed carrier or if thecarrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the carriers determined by theUE to be used for PUSCH transmission is the licensed carrier, the UEtransmits the PUSCH according to the UL grant, and transmits the UCI inthe carrier with the smallest SCellIndex.

In the embodiment, take the UCI including the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK as an example for description. The present invention furtherapplies to a condition that the UCI only includes the ACK/NACK or theperiodic CSI and the UCI is carried on the PUSCH. For example, in thesecond method in the first embodiment, when there is PUSCH transmissionin the licensed spectrum, the UE selects the PUSCH on the carrier withthe smallest SCellIndex in the licensed spectrum to carry the UCI.

Second Embodiment

Methods in the second embodiment apply to a UE not configured to havesimultaneous PUCCH and PUSCH transmission. In particular, four methodsare illustrated in this embodiment as follows.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an uplink control informationtransmitting first method according to a second embodiment of thepresent application. As shown in FIG. 11, the first method includesprocedures as follow.

At block 1101, the UE receives an UL grant from a base station.

In this block, the UE detects the UL grant transmitted from the basestation.

At block 1102, if the UE determines a carrier with a smallest SCellIndexin the detected UL grant is an unlicensed carrier according to the ULgrant, the UE does not detect the UL grant scheduling a PUSCH of a Pcellor a sPcell, and UCI only includes ACK/NACK, or if the UE determines thecarrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the detected UL grant is theunlicensed carrier according to the UL grant, the UE does not detect theUL grant scheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell or the sPcell, there is nodetermined PUSCH, and the UCI only includes the ACK/NACK, or

if a carrier with a smallest SCellIndex in carriers determined to beused for PUSCH transmission is the unlicensed carrier, the UE does notdetect the UL grant scheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell or the sPcell, andthe UCI only includes the ACK/NACK, or if the carrier with the smallestSCellIndex in the carriers determined to be used for PUSCH transmissionis the unlicensed carrier, the UE does not detect the UL grantscheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell or the sPcell, there is no determinedPUSCH, and the UCI only includes the ACK/NACK, procedures in block 1102a are performed. If the UE may not transmit the PUSCH on any uplinkcarrier and the UCI only includes the ACK/NACK, procedures in block 1102b are performed.

In this block, for example, when there is neither non-adaptiveretransmission nor SPS transmission on the PUSCH in subframe n+k, thereis no determined PUSCH.

In this block, for example, when there is the non-adaptiveretransmission or the SPS transmission on the PUSCH in subframe n+k,there is the determined PUSCH.

At block 1102 a , after the UE performs CCA for a carrier correspondingto the detected UL grant in the unlicensed spectrum or for a carrierdetermined by the UE to transmit the scheduled PUSCH in the unlicensedspectrum, the UE transmits the UCI according to one of three manners asfollows.

In a first manner, the UE transmits the ACK/NACK carried on the PUCCH onthe Pcell or the sPcell, and does not transmit the PUSCH for anycarrier.

In a second manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI ina licensed spectrum, wherein a carrier on which the UCI is transmittedhas the smallest SCellIndex in carriers in the licensed spectrum, andthe UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH on an idle carrier in theunlicensed spectrum; or when there is no scheduled PUSCH in the licensedspectrum, the UE transmits the ACK/NACK carried on the PUCCH on thePcell or the sPcell, or the UE does not transmits the ACK/NACK.

In a third manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the ACK/NACKin the licensed spectrum, wherein a carrier on which the ACK/NACK istransmitted has the smallest SCellIndex in the carriers in the licensedspectrum, and the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH on an idle carrier inthe unlicensed spectrum; or when there is no scheduled PUSCH in thelicensed spectrum, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the ACK/NACKon the idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum.

In this present invention, the PUCCH may have a newly-defined PUCCHformat, e.g., an existing PUSCH format. For example, a convolutionalcode and Cyclical Redundancy Check (CRC) are used, and time-frequencymapping is in accordance with an existing PUSCH time-frequency mappingrule. However, PUSCH resource is not determined according to real-timeUL grant. In particular, the PUSCH resource is calculated according to apreset rule, or is configured through a higher layer signalling. ThePUCCH in the present invention is still called as PUCCH. Alternatively,the PUCCH may be based on an existing PUCCH signal structure, but mayhave a newly-defined PUCCH format. Alternatively, a PUCCH format inexisting specifications may be reused, e.g., PUCCH format 2 a/2 b/3.

The three manners above are described in detail as follows.

In the first manner, the UE transmits the ACK/NACK carried on the PUCCHon the Pcell or the sPcell, and does not transmit the PUSCH for anycarrier. In particular, the first manner may be performed as follows.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a first mannerin a first method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 12, the UE transmits the ACK/NACK carried onthe PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell, and simultaneously discards PUSCHtransmission on all other carriers.

In the second manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and theACK/NACK in the licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH onthe idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum; when there is no scheduledPUSCH in the licensed spectrum, the UE transmits the ACK/NACK carried onthe PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell, or the UE does not transmits theACK/NACK. In particular, the second manner may be performed as follows.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first example of a secondmanner in a first method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 13, when the ACK/NACK is carried on thePUSCH, the PUSCH carrying the ACN/NACK is only transmitted on thecarrier in the licensed spectrum, wherein the carrier on which the PUSCHis transmitted has the smallest SCellIndex in carriers in the licensedspectrum.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second example of a secondmanner in a first method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 14, when there is no PUSCH transmission inthe licensed spectrum, the UE does not transmits the ACK/NACK.Alternatively, the UE transmits the ACK/NACK carried on the PUCCH on thePcell or the sPcell, and simultaneously discards PUSCH transmission onall other carriers.

In this manner, even if SCellIndex of an uplink carrier used fortransmission in the unlicensed spectrum is smaller than SCellIndex ofany uplink carrier used for transmission in the licensed spectrum, thePUSCH on the uplink carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the licensedspectrum is still selected to carry the periodic CSI.

When there is no PUSCH transmission in the licensed spectrum, two waysare used to implement the method as follows.

In a first way, the ACK/NACK is not transmitted, and the PUSCH onlyincluding the UL-SCH is transmitted on a scheduled idle unlicensedcarrier.

In a second way, the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUCCH on the Pcell orthe sPcell, and no PUSCH is transmitted on any carrier.

The base station may preferably schedule the PUSCH on the licensedspectrum in a subframe where the ACK/NACK may be fed back so as toreduce an occurrence probability of the first way or the second way.

In the third manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and theACK/NACK in the licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH onthe idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum; when there is no scheduledPUSCH in the licensed spectrum, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH andthe ACK/NACK on the idle carrier in the un-licensed spectrum. Inparticular, the third manner may be performed as follows.

The ACK/NACK is preferably carried on the PUSCH on the carrier in thelicensed spectrum, wherein the carrier on which the PUSCH is transmittedhas the smallest SCellIndex in the carriers in the licensed spectrum.

When there is no PUSCH transmission in the licensed spectrum, theACK/NACK is carried on the PUSCH transmitted in the unlicensed spectrumaccording to a preset rule, which may be implemented as follows.

In a first way, the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUSCH on the uplinkcarrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the unlicensed spectrum, asshown in FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a firstexample of a third manner in a first method according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

In a second way, the ACK/NACK is carried in each PUSCH transmitted inthe unlicensed spectrum, as shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 16 is a schematicdiagram illustrating a second example of a third manner in a firstmethod according to a second embodiment of the present invention. TheACK/NACK carried in each PUSCH transmitted in the unlicensed spectrummay be generated through a same modulation encoding rate matchingprocessing, or may be generated through different modulation encodingrate matching processings from each other.

A rate matching factor β_(offset) ^(HARQ-ACK) used to transmit theACK/NACK in the unlicensed spectrum may be different from a ratematching factor used to transmit the ACK/NACK in the licensed spectrum.

In the third manner, the base station may preferably schedule the PUSCHon the licensed spectrum in a subframe where the ACK/NACK may be fedback so as to reduce an occurrence probability of the first way or thesecond way.

At block 1102 b , the UE transmits the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcellto carry the ACK/NACK.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an uplink control informationtransmitting second method according to a second embodiment of thepresent application. As shown in FIG. 17, the second method includesprocedures as follow.

At block 1701, the UE receives an UL grant from a base station.

In this block, the UE detects the UL grant transmitted from the basestation.

At block 1702, if the UE determines a carrier with a smallest SCellIndexin the detected UL grant is an unlicensed carrier according to the ULgrant, the UE does not detect the UL grant scheduling a PUSCH of a Pcellor a sPcell, and UCI only includes periodic CSI, or if the UE determinesthe carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the detected UL grant is theunlicensed carrier according to the UL grant, the UE does not detect theUL grant scheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell or the sPcell, there is nodetermined PUSCH, and the UCI only includes the periodic CSI, or

if the carrier with a smallest SCellIndex in carriers determined to beused for PUSCH transmission is the unlicensed carrier, the UE does notdetect the UL grant scheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell or the sPcell, andthe UCI only includes the periodic CSI, or if the carrier with thesmallest SCellIndex in the carriers determined to be used for PUSCHtransmission is the unlicensed carrier, the UE does not detect the ULgrant scheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell or the sPcell, there is nodetermined PUSCH, and the UCI only includes the periodic CSI, proceduresin block 1702 a are performed. If the UE may not transmit the PUSCH onany uplink carrier, procedures in block 1702 b are performed.

In this block, for example, when there is neither non-adaptiveretransmission nor SPS transmission on the PUSCH in subframe n+k, thereis no determined PUSCH.

In this block, for example, when there is the non-adaptiveretransmission or the SPS transmission on the PUSCH in subframe n+k,there is the determined PUSCH.

At block 1702 a , after the UE performs CCA for a carrier correspondingto the detected UL grant in the unlicensed spectrum or for a carrierdetermined by the UE to transmit the scheduled PUSCH in the unlicensedspectrum, the UE transmits the periodic CSI according to one of fourmanners as follows.

In a first manner, the UE transmits the periodic CSI carried on thePUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell.

In a second manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and theperiodic CSI in a licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCHon an idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum; when there is noscheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum, the UE transmits the periodicCSI carried on the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell, or the UE does nottransmits the periodic CSI.

In a third manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the periodicCSI in the licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on anidle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum; when there is no scheduledPUSCH in the licensed spectrum, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH andthe periodic CSI on the idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum.

In a fourth manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and theperiodic CSI on the idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum, andtransmits the scheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum.

In this present invention, the PUCCH may have a newly-defined PUCCHformat, e.g., an existing PUSCH format. For example, a convolutionalcode and Cyclical Redundancy Check (CRC) are used, and time-frequencymapping is in accordance with an existing PUSCH time-frequency mappingrule. However, PUSCH resource is not determined according to real-timeUL grant. In particular, the PUSCH resource is calculated according to apreset rule, or is configured through a higher layer signalling. ThePUCCH in the present invention is still called as PUCCH. Alternatively,the PUCCH may be based on an existing PUCCH signal structure, but mayhave a newly-defined PUCCH format. Alternatively, a PUCCH format inexisting specifications may be reused, e.g., PUCCH format 2 a/2 b/3.

The four manners above are described in detail as follows.

In the first manner, the UE transmits the periodic CSI carried on thePUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell. In particular, the first manner may beperformed as follows.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a first mannerin a second method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 18, the UE transmits the periodic CSIcarried on the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell, and simultaneouslydiscards PUSCH transmission on all other carriers.

In the second manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and theperiodic CSI in a licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCHon an idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum; when there is noscheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum, the UE transmits the periodicCSI carried on the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell, or the UE does nottransmits the periodic CSI. In particular, the second manner may beperformed as follows.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a secondmanner in a second method according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 19, when the periodic CSI is carriedon the PUSCH, the PUSCH carrying the periodic CSI is only transmitted onthe carrier in the licensed spectrum, wherein the carrier on which thePUSCH is transmitted has the smallest SCellIndex in carriers in thelicensed spectrum.

When there is no PUSCH transmission in the licensed spectrum, the UEdoes not transmits the periodic CSI, or the UE transmits the periodicCSI carried on the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell.

In this manner, even if SCellIndex of an uplink carrier used fortransmission in the unlicensed spectrum is smaller than SCellIndex ofany uplink carrier used for transmission in the licensed spectrum, thePUSCH on the uplink carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the licensedspectrum is still selected to carry the periodic CSI.

When there is no PUSCH transmission in the licensed spectrum, thismanner may be implemented according to two ways are as follows.

In a first way, the periodic CSI is not transmitted, and the PUSCH onlyincluding the UL-SCH is transmitted on a scheduled idle unlicensedcarrier.

In a second way, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUCCH on the Pcellor the sPcell, and no PUSCH is transmitted on any carrier.

The base station may preferably schedule the PUSCH on the licensedspectrum in a subframe where the periodic CSI may be fed back so as toreduce an occurrence probability of the first way or the second way.

In the third manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and theperiodic CSI in the licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCHon an idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum; when there is noscheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum, the UE transmits the scheduledPUSCH and the periodic CSI on the idle carrier in the unlicensedspectrum. In particular, the third manner may be performed as follows.

The periodic CSI is preferably carried on the PUSCH transmitted on thecarrier in the licensed spectrum, wherein the carrier on which the PUSCHis transmitted has the smallest SCellIndex in carriers in the licensedspectrum. When there is no PUSCH transmission in the licensed spectrum,the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH transmitted in the unlicensedspectrum according to a preset rule. For example, FIG. 20 is a schematicdiagram illustrating a first example of a third manner in a secondmethod according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In acondition as shown in FIG. 20, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCHtransmitted on the uplink carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in theunlicensed spectrum. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram illustrating asecond example of a third manner in a second method according to asecond embodiment of the present invention. In another condition asshown in FIG. 21, the period CSI is carried on PUSCHs transmitted on allcarriers or pre-configured carriers in the unlicensed spectrum, whereinthe periodic CSI carried on a PUSCH transmitted on each of all thecarriers or the pre-configured carriers in the unlicensed spectrum maybe generated through performing a same modulation-encoding-rate-matchingprocessing for the original periodic CSI, or may be generated throughperforming different modulation-encoding-rate-matching proces sings forthe original periodic CSI. When the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCHin the unlicensed spectrum, the PUSCH in the unlicensed spectrum furthercarries indication information to indicate on which carrier the PUSCHcarries the periodic CSI. Detail methods are similar as the four mannersin the fourth method in the first embodiment, which are not describedrepeatedly.

The base station may preferably schedule the PUSCH on the licensedspectrum in a subframe where the periodic CSI may be fed back so as toreduce an occurrence probability of the first condition.

In the fourth manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and theperiodic CSI on the idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum, andtransmits the scheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum. In particular,the fourth manner may be performed as follows.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a fourthmanner in a second method according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 22, the periodic CSI is carried onthe PUSCH transmitted on an uplink carrier with the smallest SCellIndexin uplink carriers used for transmission. The PUSCH may further carryindication information to indicate on which carrier the PUSCH carriesthe periodic CSI.

The PUSCH on the uplink carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in carriersused for transmission is selected to carry the periodic CSI, wherein itis not distinguished whether the uplink carrier is in the unlicensedspectrum. When the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH in theunlicensed spectrum, the PUSCH in the unlicensed spectrum furthercarries the indication information to indicate on which carrier thePUSCH carries the periodic CSI. In particular, detail methods aresimilar as the four manners in the fourth method in a first embodiment,which are not described repeatedly.

The base station may allocate a small SCellIndex for a carrier in thelicensed spectrum, may allocate a large SCellIndex for a carrier in theunlicensed spectrum, and may preferably schedule the PUSCH on thelicensed spectrum in a subframe where the periodic CSI may be fed backso as to reduce an occurrence probability of the condition that it isnot distinguished whether the uplink carrier carrying the periodic CSIis in the unlicensed spectrum.

At block 1702 b , the UE transmits the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcellto carry the periodic CSI.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an uplink control informationtransmitting third method according to a second embodiment of thepresent application. As shown in FIG. 23, the third method includesprocedures as follow.

At block 2301, the UE receives an UL grant from a base station.

In this block, the UE detects the UL grant transmitted from the basestation.

At block 2302 a , if the UE determines a carrier with a smallestSCellIndex in the detected UL grant is an unlicensed carrier accordingto the UL grant, the UE does not detect the UL grant scheduling a PUSCHof a Pcell or a sPcell and UCI includes periodic CSI and ACK/NACK, or ifthe UE determines the carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in thedetected UL grant is the unlicensed carrier according to the UL grant,the UE does not detect the UL grant scheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell orthe sPcell, there is no determined PUSCH and the UCI includes theperiodic CSI and the ACK/NACK, or if the carrier with a smallestSCellIndex in carriers determined to be used for PUSCH transmission isthe unlicensed carrier, the UE does not detect the UL grant schedulingthe PUSCH of the Pcell or the sPcell, and the UCI includes the periodicCSI and the ACK/NACK, or if the carrier with the smallest SCellIndex inthe carriers determined to be used for PUSCH transmission is theunlicensed carrier, the UE does not detect the UL grant scheduling thePUSCH of the Pcell or the sPcell, there is no determined PUSCH, and theUCI includes the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK, procedures in block 2302a a are performed. If the UE may not transmit the PUSCH on any uplinkcarrier and the UCI includes the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK,procedures in block 2302 b are performed.

In this block, for example, when there is neither non-adaptiveretransmission nor SPS transmission on the PUSCH in subframe n+k, thereis no determined PUSCH.

In this block, for example, when there is the non-adaptiveretransmission or the SPS transmission on the PUSCH in subframe n+k,there is the determined PUSCH.

At block 2302 a a, after the UE performs CCA for a carrier correspondingto the detected UL grant in the unlicensed spectrum or for a carrierdetermined by the UE to transmit the scheduled PUSCH in the unlicensedspectrum, the UE transmits the UCI according to one of four manners asfollows.

In a first manner, the UE transmits the UCI carried on the PUCCH on thePcell or the sPcell, wherein the UCI includes the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK.

In a second manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI inthe licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on an idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum, wherein the UCI includes theperiodic CSI and the ACK/NACK; when there is no scheduled PUSCH in thelicensed spectrum, the UE does not transmit the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK, or the UE transmits the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK carriedon the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell.

In a third manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI inthe licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on an idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum, wherein the UCI includes theperiodic CSI and the ACK/NACK; when there is no scheduled PUSCH in thelicensed spectrum, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI onthe idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum, wherein the UCI includesthe periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK.

In a fourth manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI onthe idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum, wherein the UCI includesthe periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK.

In this present invention, the PUCCH may have a newly-defined PUCCHformat, e.g., an existing PUSCH format. For example, a convolutionalcode and Cyclical Redundancy Check (CRC) are used, and time-frequencymapping is in accordance with an existing PUSCH time-frequency mappingrule. However, PUSCH resource is not determined according to real-timeUL grant. In particular, the PUSCH resource is calculated according to apreset rule, or is configured through a higher layer signalling. ThePUCCH in the present invention is still called as PUCCH. Alternatively,the PUCCH may be based on an existing PUCCH signal structure, but mayhave a newly-defined PUCCH format. Alternatively, a PUCCH format inexisting specifications may be reused, e.g., PUCCH format 2 a/2 b/3.

The four manners above are described in detail as follows.

In the first manner, the UE transmits the UCI carried on the PUCCH onthe Pcell or the sPcell. In particular, the first manner may beperformed as follows.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a first mannerin a third method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 24, the UE transmits the periodic CSI andthe ACK/NACK carried on the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell, andsimultaneously discards PUSCH transmission on all other carriers.

In the second manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCIin the licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on an idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum; when there is no scheduled PUSCH inthe licensed spectrum, the UE does not transmit the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK, or the UE transmits the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK carriedon the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell. In particular, the secondmanner may be performed as follows.

When the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK are carried on the PUSCH, thePUSCH carrying the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK is only transmitted onthe carrier in the licensed spectrum, wherein the carrier on which thePUSCH is transmitted has the smallest SCellIndex in carriers in thelicensed spectrum.

When there is no PUSCH transmission in the licensed spectrum, there aretwo conditions as follows.

In a first condition, the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK are nottransmitted, and the PUSCH only including the UL-SCH is transmitted on ascheduled idle unlicensed carrier.

In a second condition, the UE transmits the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK carried on the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell, andsimultaneously discards PUSCH transmission on all other carriers.

In the third manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI inthe licensed spectrum, and transmits the scheduled PUSCH on an idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum, wherein the UCI includes theperiodic CSI and the ACK/NACK; when there is no scheduled PUSCH in thelicensed spectrum, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI onthe idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum. In particular, the thirdmanner may be performed as follows.

The periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK are preferably carried on the PUSCHtransmitted on the carrier in the licensed spectrum, wherein the carrieron which the PUSCH is transmitted has the smallest SCellIndex incarriers in the licensed spectrum.

When there is no PUSCH transmission in the licensed spectrum, theperiodic CSI and/or the ACK/NACK may be transmitted according to threeways as follows.

In a first way, the ACK/NACK and the periodic CSI are carried on thePUSCH on the uplink carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in theunlicensed spectrum, or are carried on each PUSCH in the unlicensedspectrum. The periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK carried on each PUSCH in theunlicensed spectrum may be generated through performing a samemodulation-encoding-rate-matching processing for the original periodicCSI and the original ACK/NACK, or may be generated through performingdifferent modulation-encoding-rate-matching proces sings for theoriginal periodic CSI and the original ACK/NACK. Rate matching factorsβ_(offset) ^(HARQ-ACK), β_(offset) ^(RI), β_(offset) ^(CQI) used totransmit the ACK/NACK in the unlicensed spectrum may be different fromrate matching factors used to transmit the ACK/NACK in the licensedspectrum. The PUSCH may further carry indication information to indicateon which carrier the PUSCH carries the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK.

In a second way, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH on the uplinkcarrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the unlicensed spectrum, and theACK/NACK is carried on the PUSCH on each uplink carrier in theunlicensed spectrum; or the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUSCH on theuplink carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the unlicensed spectrum,and the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH on each uplink carrier inthe unlicensed spectrum. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram illustrating asecond example of a third manner in a third method according to a secondembodiment of the present invention. The PUSCH may further carryindication information to indicate on which carrier the PUSCH carriesthe periodic CSI or the ACK/NACK.

In a third way, the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUSCH on the uplinkcarrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the unlicensed spectrum, or iscarried on the PUSCH transmitted on each uplink carrier in theunlicensed spectrum, but the periodic CSI transmission is discarded.FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram illustrating a third example of a thirdmanner in a third method according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

In the fourth manner, the UE transmits the scheduled PUSCH and the UCIon the idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum. In particular, the thirdmanner may be performed as follows.

The periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK are carried on the PUSCH on the uplinkcarrier with the smallest SCellIndex in uplink carriers used fortransmission. The PUSCH may further carry indication information toindicate on which carrier the PUSCH carries the periodic CSI.

At block 2302 a b, the UE transmits the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcellto carry the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an uplink control informationtransmitting fourth method according to a second embodiment of thepresent application. As shown in FIG. 27, the fourth method includesprocedures as follow.

At block 2701, the UE receives an UL grant from a base station.

In this block, the UE detects the UL grant transmitted from the basestation.

At block 2702, if the UE detects that the PUSCH scheduled by DownlinkControl Information (DCI) including an aperiodic CSI trigger indicationis for a carrier in the unlicensed spectrum and the UCI includes theaperiodic CSI and the ACK/NACK, procedures at block 2702 a areperformed; If the UE may not transmit the PUSCH on any uplink carrierand the UCI only includes the aperiodic CSI and the ACK/NACK, proceduresin block 2702 b are performed.

At block 2702 a , after the UE performs CCA for a carrier correspondingto the detected UL grant in the unlicensed spectrum or for a carrierdetermined by the UE to transmit the scheduled PUSCH in the unlicensedspectrum, the UE transmits the UCI according to one of two manners asfollows.

In a first manner, the ACK/NACK is only carried on the PUSCH on acarrier in a licensed spectrum, wherein the carrier on which the PUSCHis transmitted has the smallest SCellIndex in carriers in the licensedspectrum. The aperiodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH scheduled by the DCIincluding the aperiodic CSI trigger indication. FIG. 28 is a schematicdiagram illustrating an example of a first manner in a fourth methodaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention. When there isno scheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum, the ACK/NACK is nottransmitted, the scheduled PUSCH is transmitted in an idle carrier inthe unlicensed spectrum, and the aperiodic CSI is carried on the PUSCHscheduled by the DCI including the aperiodic CSI trigger indication.Alternatively, when there is no scheduled PUSCH in the licensedspectrum, the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUCCH on the Pcell or thesPcell, and the UE simultaneously discards the PUSCH and aperiodic CSIto be transmitted on all other carriers.

In a second manner, the ACK/NACK is preferably carried on the PUSCH on acarrier in a licensed spectrum, wherein the carrier on which the PUSCHis transmitted has the smallest SCellIndex in carriers in the licensedspectrum. When there is no scheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum, thescheduled PUSCH and the UCI are transmitted on an idle carrier in theunlicensed spectrum, and the aperiodic CSI is carried on the PUSCHscheduled by the DCI including the aperiodic CSI trigger indication.FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a secondmanner in a fourth method according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention. When there is no scheduled PUSCH in the licensedspectrum, the ACK/NACK may be transmitted on the PUSCH in the unlicensedspectrum according to two ways as follows.

In a first way, the ACK/NACK and the aperiodic CSI are carried on thePUSCH scheduled by the DCI including the aperiodic CSI triggerindication.

In a second way, the ACK/NACK is carried on each PUSCH transmitted inthe unlicensed spectrum. The ACK/NACK information carried in each PUSCHtransmitted in the unlicensed spectrum may be generated throughperforming a same modulation-encoding-rate-matching processing for theoriginal ACK/NACK, or may be generated through performing differentmodulation-encoding-rate-matching proces sings for the originalACK/NACK. A Rate matching factor β_(offset) ^(HARQ-ACK) used to transmitthe ACK/NACK in the unlicensed spectrum may be different from a ratematching factor used to transmit the ACK/NACK in the licensed spectrum.

At block 2702 b , the UE transmits the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcellto carry the ACK/NACK.

In the present invention, the base station is uncertain whether thePUSCH is transmitted on the uplink carrier in the unlicensed spectrum.The base station may determine whether the PUSCH is transmitted on theuplink carrier according to blind detection. For example, according toCRC, the base station may determine whether the PUSCH is successfullytransmitted. According to implementation algorithm, based on the CRC,the base station may determine whether the PUSCH is not transmitted, orwhether the PUSCH is transmitted but is not correctly demodulated.Alternatively, the base station may determine whether the PUSCH istransmitted through detecting another uplink signal, e.g., a referencesignal.

When same information is transmitted in multiple carriers, e.g., theACK/NACK is transmitted on multiple PUSCHs, the base station may performdemodulation through jointly decoding or independently decoding ACK/NACKsignals on the multiple PUSCHs.

Third Embodiment

In this embodiment, when the UCI includes periodic CSI (a subframe wherethe UCI is transmitted is a subframe where the periodic CSI isreported), the UCI further includes aperiodic CSI in the same subframeand an uplink carrier carrying the aperiodic CSI is a carrier in theunlicensed spectrum, the periodic CSI is transmitted on a carrier in thelicensed spectrum, or the periodic CSI is transmitted according to amethod when the UCI is only includes the periodic CSI according toanother embodiment of the present invention, or the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK is transmitted according to a method when the UCI is onlyincludes the periodic CSI according to another example of the presentinvention. The UE transmits the aperiodic CSI in the unlicensed spectrumwhen the unlicensed spectrum is idle, or only transmits the periodic CSIon the uplink carrier in the licensed spectrum when the uplink carriercarrying the aperiodic CSI in the unlicensed spectrum is not used fortransmission in the same subframe.

In particular, the method in FIG. 1 may apply to a first scenario. Inthe first scenario, the uplink carrier scheduled by an UL granttriggering the aperiodic CSI is a carrier in the unlicensed spectrum,i.e., the carrier carrying the aperiodic CSI is a carrier in theunlicensed carrier.

There are two implementation manners in the first scenario.

In an implementation manner, when there is the periodic CSI and theaperiodic CSI in a same subframe, the UE may simultaneously transmit theperiodic CSI and the aperiodic CSI.

In another implementation manner, when the uplink carrier carrying theaperiodic CSI in the unlicensed spectrum is not used for transmission inthe same subframe, the UE transmits the periodic CSI.

When the UCI includes periodic CSI (i.e., a subframe where the UCI istransmitted is a subframe where the periodic CSI is reported), the UCIincludes the periodic CSI, the pre-defined location includes a subframewhere the periodic CSI is reported.

When the UCI in the same subframe further includes the aperiodic CSI andall downlink carriers corresponding to the aperiodic CSI are carriers inthe unlicensed spectrum, the periodic CSI is transmitted on the licensedspectrum, or the periodic CSI is transmitted according to a method whenthe UCI is only includes the periodic CSI according to anotherembodiment of the present invention, or the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK is transmitted according to a method when the UCI is onlyincludes the periodic CSI according to another example of the presentinvention. The aperiodic CSI is transmitted on a carrier in the licensedspectrum when the carrier carrying the aperiodic CSI is in the licensedspectrum; the aperiodic CSI is transmitted on a carrier in theunlicensed spectrum when the carrier carrying the aperiodic CSI is anidle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum; or the UE only transmits theperiodic CSI on the carrier in the licensed carrier when there is novalid CSI measurement result for any downlink unlicensed carriercorresponding to the aperiodic CSI in the same subframe.

In particular, the method in FIG. 1 may apply to a second scenario. Inthe second scenario, all downlink carriers corresponding to theaperiodic CSI are carriers in the unlicensed spectrum.

There are two implementation manners in the second scenario.

In an implementation manner, when there is the periodic CSI and theaperiodic CSI in a same subframe, the UE may simultaneously respectivelytransmit the periodic CSI and the aperiodic CSI.

In another implementation manner, in the same subframe, when there is novalid CSI measurement result for any downlink unlicensed carriercorresponding to the aperiodic CSI, the UE transmits the periodic CSI.

Four implementation manners are respectively described in detail asfollows.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a first implementing manner of amethod in FIG. 1 applying to a first scenario according to an embodimentof the present invention. The first implementing manner includesprocedures as follows.

At block 3001, a UE receives a UL grant from a base station.

The UE detects the UL grant transmitted by the base station.

At block 3002, when the UE detects that the PUSCH scheduled by DCIincluding an aperiodic CSI trigger indication is on an unlicensedcarrier, a subframe where the PUSCH is transmitted is a subframe wherethe periodic CSI is fed back, and the UCI does not include the ACK/NACK,procedures at block 3002 a are performed; when the UE may not transmitPUSCH on any uplink carrier, the subframe where the PUSCH is transmittedis the subframe where the periodic CSI is fed back, and the UCI does notinclude the ACK/NACK, procedures at block 3002 b are performed.

At block 3002 a , after the UE performs CCA for a carrier correspondingto the detected UL grant in the unlicensed spectrum or for a carrierdetermined by the UE to transmit the scheduled PUSCH in the unlicensedspectrum, the UE transmits the UCI according to one of three manners asfollows.

In a first manner, if the subframe where the PUSCH is to be transmittedis the subframe where the periodic CSI is fed back, and a downlinkcarrier corresponding to the periodic CSI belongs to a different PUCCHgroup from the unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH including theaperiodic CSI may be transmitted (that is, downlink carries carryingPUCCHs are different from each other, e.g., a downlink carriercorresponding to the periodic CSI belongs to a same PUCCH group with thePcell, referred to as a P-PUCCH group; an unlicensed carrier where thePUSCH may be transmitted belongs to another PUCCH group referred to as aS-PUCCH group), the periodic CSI may be transmitted on a correspondingcarrier in the PUCCH group to which the periodic CSI belongs, which isnot related to whether the unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH includingthe aperiodic CSI may be transmitted is idle.

The periodic CSI may be transmitted in the corresponding carrier in thePUCCH group to which the periodic CSI belongs according to the followingways. In a first way, if the UE is configured to simultaneously transmitPUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCH groups and to simultaneously transmitPUCCH and PUSCH in a same PUCCH group, the periodic CSI is carried onthe PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCHgroup. In a second way, if the UE is configured to simultaneouslytransmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCH groups and not tosimultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in a same PUCCH group and ifthere is no PUSCH transmission on any licensed carrier in the PUCCHgroup, the periodic CSI is carried according to a method when the UCIonly includes the periodic CSI provided in embodiments of the presentinvention, or the UE discards the periodic CSI transmission; and/or ifthe UE is configured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH indifferent PUCCH groups and not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH andPUSCH in the PUCCH group and if there is PUSCH transmission on licensedcarriers in the PUCCH group, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH ona carrier with the smallest carrier index in the licensed carriers wherethe PUSCH is transmitted no matter whether the carrier index of thelicensed carrier is larger than that of an unlicensed carrier where thePUSCH is transmitted in the PUCCH group, or the periodic CSI is carriedaccording to a method when the UCI only includes the periodic CSIprovided in embodiments of the present invention. In a third way, if theUE is configured not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH indifferent PUCCH groups and not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH andPUSCH in a same PUCCH group and if there is no PUSCH transmission on anylicensed carrier in the PUCCH group, the UE discards the periodic CSItransmission, or the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH transmitted ona licensed carrier; and/or if the UE is configured not to simultaneouslytransmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCH groups and not tosimultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in the PUCCH group and if thereis PUSCH transmission on a licensed carrier in the PUCCH group but thecarrier index of the licensed carrier is larger than that of anunlicensed carrier where the PUSCH is transmitted in the PUCCH group,the periodic CSI is carried according to a method when the UCI onlyincludes the periodic CSI provided in embodiments of the presentinvention. For example, a carrier with the smallest cell index isselected in licensed carriers where the PUSCH is transmitted.

In a second manner, if the subframe where the PUSCH is to be transmittedis the subframe where the periodic CSI is fed back, and a downlinkcarrier corresponding to the periodic CSI belongs to a same PUCCH groupwith an unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSImay be transmitted, the periodic CSI may be transmitted on acorresponding carrier in the PUCCH group to which the periodic CSIbelongs, which is not related to whether the unlicensed carrier wherethe PUSCH including the aperiodic CSI may be transmitted is idle.

The periodic CSI may be transmitted in the corresponding carrier in thePUCCH group to which the periodic CSI belongs according to the followingways. In a first way, if the UE is configured to simultaneously transmitPUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCH groups and to simultaneously transmitPUCCH and PUSCH in a same PUCCH group, the periodic CSI is carried onthe PUCCH on the carrier the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCHgroup. In a second way, if the UE is configured to simultaneouslytransmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCH groups and not tosimultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in a same PUCCH group and ifthere is no PUSCH transmission on any licensed carrier in the PUCCHgroup, the UE discards the periodic CSI transmission, or the periodicCSI is carried on the PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can betransmitted in the PUCCH group and the UE discards PUSCH transmission onother unlicensed carriers in the PUCCH group; and/or if the UE isconfigured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCHgroups and not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in the PUCCHgroup and if there is PUSCH transmission on licensed carriers in thePUCCH group, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH on a carrier withthe smallest carrier index in the licensed carriers where the PUSCH istransmitted no matter whether the carrier index of the licensed carrieris larger than that of an unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH istransmitted in the PUCCH group, or the periodic CSI is carried accordingto a method when the UCI only includes the periodic CSI provided inembodiments of the present invention. In a third way, if the UE isconfigured not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in differentPUCCH groups and not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in asame PUCCH group and if there is no PUSCH transmission on any licensedcarrier in the PUCCH group, the UE discards the periodic CSItransmission. Alternatively, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUCCH onthe carrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCH group, andthe UE discards PUSCH transmission on other unlicensed carriers in thePUCCH group. Further, whether the periodic CSI is transmitted isultimately determined according to transmission conditions of otherPUCCH groups.

In the two manners above, when the unlicensed carrier where the PUSCHincluding the aperiodic CSI may be transmitted is idle, the PUSCHincluding the aperiodic CSI is transmitted on the unlicensed carrier;when the unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSImay be transmitted is busy, the UE discards PUSCH transmission andaperiodic CSI transmission.

In a third manner, if the subframe where the PUSCH is to be transmittedis the subframe where the periodic CSI is fed back, and a downlinkcarrier corresponding to the periodic CSI belongs to a same PUCCH groupwith an unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSImay be transmitted, the periodic CSI may be transmitted on acorresponding carrier in the PUCCH group to which the periodic CSIbelongs, which is related to whether the unlicensed carrier where thePUSCH including the aperiodic CSI may be transmitted is idle.

The periodic CSI may be transmitted in the corresponding carrier in thePUCCH group to which the periodic CSI belongs. When the unlicensedcarrier where the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSI can be transmittedis idle, the UE discards the periodic CSI transmission, and transmitsthe PUSCH including the aperiodic CSI on the idle unlicensed carrier.When the unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSIcan be transmitted is busy, the UE discards PUSCH transmission andaperiodic CSI transmission, and transmits the periodic CSI on anothercarrier. The periodic CSI may be transmitted according to the followingways. In a first way, if the UE is configured to simultaneously transmitPUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCH groups and to simultaneously transmitPUCCH and PUSCH in a same PUCCH group, the periodic CSI is carried onthe PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCHgroup. In a second way, if the UE is configured to simultaneouslytransmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCH groups and not tosimultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in a same PUCCH group and ifthere is no PUSCH transmission on any licensed carrier in the PUCCHgroup, the UE discards the periodic CSI transmission, or the periodicCSI is carried on the PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can betransmitted in the PUCCH group, and the UE discards PUSCH transmissionon other unlicensed carriers in the PUCCH group; and/or if the UE isconfigured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCHgroups and not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in the PUCCHgroup and if there is PUSCH transmission on licensed carriers in thePUCCH group, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH on a carrier withthe smallest carrier index in the licensed carriers where the PUSCH istransmitted no matter whether the carrier index of the licensed carrieris larger than that of an unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH istransmitted in the PUCCH group, or the periodic CSI is carried accordingto a method when the UCI only includes the periodic CSI provided inembodiments of the present invention. In a third way, if the UE isconfigured not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in differentPUCCH groups and not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in asame PUCCH group and if there is no PUSCH transmission on any licensedcarrier in the PUCCH group, the UE discards the periodic CSItransmission. Alternatively, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUCCH onthe carrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCH group, andthe UE discards PUSCH transmission on other unlicensed carriers in thePUCCH group. Further, whether the periodic CSI is transmitted isultimately determined according to transmission conditions of otherPUCCH groups.

In this manner, the UE may in advance prepare multiple sets of bitscorresponding to PUSCH transmission and periodic CSI transmissionaccording to multiple conditions that may possibly occur, and may selecta corresponding set of bits to be transmitted according to a real-timeCCA result. Alternatively, when the UE has a strong processingcapability, the UE may prepare a corresponding set of bits to betransmitted according to the real-time CCA result.

One of the three manners above may be set in specifications, or may besemistatically configured by a higher layer, or may be selected througha pre-defined rule. However, it should be ensured that the base stationhas a same understanding with the UE. For example, a pre-defined rulemay include that a first manner or a second manner is used only when anuplink transmission time of the unlicensed carrier where the PUSCHcarrying the aperiodic CSI is transmitted is earlier than anothercarrier in the licensed spectrum, and the third manner is used when theuplink transmission time of the unlicensed carrier where the PUSCHcarrying the aperiodic CSI is transmitted is later than another carrierin the licensed spectrum.

At block 3002 b , the UE transmits the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcellto carry the periodic CSI.

When the UE may not transmit the PUSCH on any uplink carrier, thesubframe where the PUSCH is transmitted is the subframe where theperiodic CSI is fed back, and the UCI does not include the ACK/NACK, theUE transmits the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell to carry the periodicCSI according to one of two manners as follows.

In a first manner, when the UE does not have PUSCH transmission on anyconfigured uplink carrier, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUCCH onthe carrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in a PUCCH group to whichthe downlink carrier corresponding to the periodic CSI belongs. Forexample, the PUCCH carrying the periodic CSI is transmitted on the Pcellwhen the PUCCH group includes the Pcell; the PUCCH carrying the periodicCSI is transmitted on the sPcell when the PUCCH group does not includethe Pcell.

In a second manner, when the UE does not have PUSCH transmission on anyuplink carrier in a PUCCH group including the unlicensed carrier wherethe PUSCH including the aperiodic CSI is transmitted, the periodic CSIis carried on the PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can betransmitted in the PUCCH group. For example, the PUCCH carrying theperiodic CSI is transmitted on the Pcell when the PUCCH group includesthe Pcell; the PUCCH carrying the periodic CSI is transmitted on thesPcell when the PUCCH group does not include the Pcell.

Further, when the UE is configured not to simultaneously transmit PUCCHand PUSCH in different PUCCH groups, whether the periodic CSItransmission is discarded is ultimately determined according totransmission conditions of other PUCCH groups.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a second implementing manner of amethod in FIG. 1 applying to a first scenario according to an embodimentof the present invention. The second implementing manner includesprocedures as follows.

At block 3101, a UE receives a UL grant from a base station.

The UE detects the UL grant transmitted by the base station.

At block 3102, when the UE detects that the PUSCH scheduled by DCIincluding an aperiodic CSI trigger indication is on an unlicensedcarrier, a subframe where the PUSCH is transmitted is a subframe wherethe periodic CSI is fed back, and the UCI includes the ACK/NACK,procedures at block 3102 a are performed; when the UE may not transmitPUSCH on any uplink carrier, the subframe where the PUSCH is transmittedis the subframe where the periodic CSI feedback is transmitted, and theUCI includes the ACK/NACK, procedures at block 3102 b are performed.

At block 3102 a , after the UE performs CCA for a carrier correspondingto the detected UL grant in the unlicensed spectrum or for a carrierdetermined by the UE to transmit the scheduled PUSCH in the unlicensedspectrum, the UE transmits the UCI according to one of three manners asfollows.

In a first manner, if the subframe where the PUSCH is to be transmittedis the subframe where the periodic CSI is fed back, and a downlinkcarrier corresponding to the periodic CSI belongs to a different PUCCHgroup from the unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH including theaperiodic CSI may be transmitted (that is, downlink carries carryingPUCCHs are different from each other, e.g., a downlink carriercorresponding to the periodic CSI belongs to a same PUCCH group with thePcell, referred to as a P-PUCCH group; an unlicensed carrier where thePUSCH may be transmitted belongs to another PUCCH group referred to as aS-PUCCH group), the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK belonging to a samePUCCH group with the periodic CSI may be transmitted on a correspondingcarrier in the PUCCH group to which the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACKbelong, which is not related to whether the unlicensed carrier where thePUSCH including the aperiodic CSI may be transmitted is idle.

The periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK belonging to the same PUCCH group withthe periodic CSI may be transmitted in the corresponding carrier in thePUCCH group according to the following ways. In a first way, if the UEis configured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in differentPUCCH groups and to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in a samePUCCH group and if there is no PUSCH transmission on any licensedcarrier in the PUCCH group, the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUCCH on thecarrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCH group and theperiodic CSI transmission is discarded, or the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK may be transmitted in the corresponding carrier in the PUCCHgroup according to a method when the UCI only includes the periodic CSIand the ACK/NACK provided in embodiments of the present invention;and/or if the UE is configured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH andPUSCH in different PUCCH groups and to simultaneously transmit PUCCH andPUSCH in the PUCCH group and if there is PUSCH transmission on licensedcarriers in the PUCCH group, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH ona carrier with the smallest carrier index in the licensed carriers wherethe PUSCH is transmitted no matter whether the carrier index of thelicensed carrier is larger than that of an unlicensed carrier where thePUSCH is transmitted in the PUCCH group and the ACK/NACK is carried onthe PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCHgroup, or the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK may be transmitted in thecorresponding carrier in the PUCCH group according to a method when theUCI only includes the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK provided inembodiments of the present invention. In a second way, if the UE isconfigured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCHgroups and not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in a samePUCCH group and if there is no PUSCH transmission on any licensedcarrier in the PUCCH group, the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUCCH on thecarrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCH group and the UEdiscards the periodic CSI transmission, or the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK are carried on the PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can betransmitted in the PUCCH group, or the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK maybe transmitted in the corresponding carrier in the PUCCH group accordingto a method when the UCI only includes the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACKprovided in embodiments of the present invention; and/or if the UE isconfigured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCHgroups and not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in the PUCCHgroup and if there is PUSCH transmission on licensed carriers in thePUCCH group, the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK are carried on the PUSCHon a carrier with the smallest carrier index in the licensed carrierswhere the PUSCH is transmitted no matter whether the carrier index ofthe licensed carrier is larger than that of an unlicensed carrier wherethe PUSCH is transmitted in the PUCCH group, or the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK may be transmitted in the corresponding carrier in the PUCCHgroup according to a method when the UCI only includes the periodic CSIand the ACK/NACK provided in embodiments of the present invention.

In a second manner, if the subframe where the PUSCH is to be transmittedis the subframe where the periodic CSI is fed back, and a downlinkcarrier corresponding to the periodic CSI belongs to a same PUCCH groupwith an unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSImay be transmitted, the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK belonging to asame PUCCH group with the periodic CSI may be transmitted on acorresponding carrier in the PUCCH group to which the periodic CSI andthe ACK/NACK belong, which is not related to whether the unlicensedcarrier where the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSI may be transmittedis idle.

The periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK belonging to the same PUCCH group withthe periodic CSI may be transmitted on the corresponding carrier in thePUCCH group according to the following ways. In a first way, if the UEis configured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in differentPUCCH groups and to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in a samePUCCH group and if there is no PUSCH transmission on any licensedcarrier in the PUCCH group, the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUCCH on thecarrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCH group, and theperiodic CSI transmission is discarded, or the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK are carried on the PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can betransmitted in the PUCCH group, or the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK maybe transmitted in the corresponding carrier in the PUCCH group accordingto a method when the UCI only includes the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACKprovided in embodiments of the present invention; and/or if the UE isconfigured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCHgroups and to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in the PUCCH groupand if there is PUSCH transmission on licensed carriers in the PUCCHgroup, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH on a carrier with thesmallest carrier index in the licensed carriers where the PUSCH istransmitted no matter whether the carrier index of the licensed carrieris larger than that of an unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH istransmitted in the PUCCH group, and the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUCCHon the carrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCH group ,or the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK may be transmitted in thecorresponding carrier in the PUCCH group according to a method when theUCI only includes the periodic CSI provided in embodiments of thepresent invention. In a second way, if the UE is configured tosimultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCH groups andnot to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in a same PUCCH group andif there is no PUSCH transmission on any licensed carrier in the PUCCHgroup, the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUCCH on the carrier where thePUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCH group and the UE discards theperiodic CSI transmission, or the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK arecarried on the PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can be transmittedin the PUCCH group, or the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK may betransmitted in the corresponding carrier in the PUCCH group according toa method when the UCI only includes the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACKprovided in embodiments of the present invention; and/or if the UE isconfigured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCHgroups and not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in the PUCCHgroup and if there is PUSCH transmission on licensed carriers in thePUCCH group, the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK are carried on the PUSCHon a carrier with the smallest carrier index in the licensed carrierswhere the PUSCH is transmitted no matter whether the carrier index ofthe licensed carrier is larger than that of an unlicensed carrier wherethe PUSCH is transmitted in the PUCCH group, or the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK may be transmitted in the corresponding carrier in the PUCCHgroup according to a method when the UCI only includes the periodic CSIand the ACK/NACK provided in embodiments of the present invention.

In the two manners above, when the unlicensed carrier where the PUSCHincluding the aperiodic CSI may be transmitted is idle, the PUSCHincluding the aperiodic CSI is transmitted on the unlicensed carrier;when the unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSImay be transmitted is busy, PUSCH transmission and aperiodic CSItransmission are discarded.

In a third manner, if the subframe where the PUSCH is to be transmittedis the subframe where the periodic CSI is fed back, and a downlinkcarrier corresponding to the periodic CSI belongs to a same PUCCH groupwith an unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSImay be transmitted, the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK belonging to asame PUCCH group with the periodic CSI may be transmitted on acorresponding carrier in the PUCCH group to which the periodic CSI andthe ACK/NACK belong, which is related to whether the unlicensed carrierwhere the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSI may be transmitted is idle.

The periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK belonging to the same PUCCH group withthe periodic CSI may be transmitted in the corresponding carrier in thePUCCH group to which the periodic CSI belongs. When the unlicensedcarrier where the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSI may be transmittedis idle, the UE discards the periodic CSI transmission, still transmitsthe ACK/NACK on the corresponding carrier in the PUCCH group, andtransmits the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSI on the idle unlicensedcarrier. An aperiodic CSI and ACK/NACK transmitting method may be inaccordance with a method when the UCI only includes the aperiodic CSIand the ACK/NACK provided in embodiments of the present invention. Whenthe unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH including the aperiodic CSI maybe transmitted is busy, PUSCH transmission and aperiodic CSItransmission are discarded, and the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK aretransmitted on another carrier. The periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK may betransmitted on the corresponding carrier in the PUCCH group according tothe following ways. In a first way, if the UE is configured tosimultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCH groups and tosimultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in a same PUCCH group and ifthere is no PUSCH transmission on any licensed carrier in the PUCCHgroup, the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUCCH on the carrier where thePUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCH group, and the periodic CSI to betransmitted is discarded, or the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK arecarried on the PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can be transmittedin the PUCCH group, or the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK may betransmitted in the corresponding carrier in the PUCCH group according toa method when the UCI only includes the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACKprovided in embodiments of the present invention; and/or if the UE isconfigured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCHgroups and to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in the PUCCH groupand if there is PUSCH transmission on licensed carriers in the PUCCHgroup, the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH on a carrier with thesmallest carrier index in the licensed carriers where the PUSCH istransmitted no matter whether the carrier index of the licensed carrieris larger than that of an unlicensed carrier where the PUSCH istransmitted in the PUCCH group and the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUCCHon the carrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCH group, orthe periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK may be transmitted in thecorresponding carrier in the PUCCH group according to a method when theUCI only includes the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK provided inembodiments of the present invention. In a second way, if the UE isconfigured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCHgroups and not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in a samePUCCH group and if there is no PUSCH transmission on any licensedcarrier in the PUCCH group, the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUCCH on thecarrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCH group and the UEdiscards the periodic CSI transmission, or the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK are carried on the PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can betransmitted in the PUCCH group, or the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK maybe transmitted in the corresponding carrier in the PUCCH group accordingto a method when the UCI only includes the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACKprovided in embodiments of the present invention; and/or if the UE isconfigured to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in different PUCCHgroups and not to simultaneously transmit PUCCH and PUSCH in the PUCCHgroup and if there is PUSCH transmission on licensed carriers in thePUCCH group, the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK are carried on the PUSCHon a carrier with the smallest carrier index in the licensed carrierswhere the PUSCH is transmitted no matter whether the carrier index ofthe licensed carrier is larger than that of an unlicensed carrier wherethe PUSCH is transmitted in the PUCCH group, or the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK may be transmitted in the corresponding carrier in the PUCCHgroup according to a method when the UCI only includes the periodic CSIand the ACK/NACK provided in embodiments of the present invention.

In this manner, the UE may in advance prepare multiple sets of bitscorresponding to PUSCH transmission, periodic CSI transmission andACK/NACK transmission according to multiple conditions that may possiblyoccur, and may select a corresponding set of bits to be transmittedaccording to a real-time CCA result. Alternatively, when the UE has astrong processing capability, the UE may prepare a corresponding set ofbits to be transmitted according to the real-time CCA result.

One of the three manners above may be set in specifications, or may besemistatically configured by a higher layer, or may be selected througha pre-defined rule. However, it should be ensured that the base stationhas a same understanding with the UE. For example, a pre-defined rulemay include that a first manner or a second manner is used only when anuplink transmission time of the unlicensed carrier where the PUSCHcarrying the aperiodic CSI is transmitted is earlier than anothercarrier in the licensed spectrum, and the third manner is used when theuplink transmission time of the unlicensed carrier where the PUSCHcarrying the aperiodic CSI is transmitted is later than another carrierin the licensed spectrum.

At block 3102 b , the UE transmits the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcellto carry the ACK/NACK and discards the periodic CSI transmission, ortransmits the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell to carry the ACK/NACK andthe periodic CSI.

When the UE may not transmit the PUSCH on any uplink carrier, thesubframe where the PUSCH is transmitted is the subframe where theperiodic CSI is fed back, and the UCI includes the ACK/NACK, the UEtransmits the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell to carry the periodic CSIaccording to one of two manners as follows.

In a first manner, when the UE does not have PUSCH transmission on anyconfigured uplink carrier, the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK are carriedon the PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in aPUCCH group to which the downlink carrier corresponding to the periodicCSI belongs, or the ACK/NACK is carried on the PUCCH on the carrierwhere the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCH group but the periodicCSI transmission is discarded.

In a second manner, when the UE does not have PUSCH transmission on anyuplink carrier in a PUCCH group including the unlicensed carrier wherethe PUSCH including the aperiodic CSI is transmitted, the periodic CSIand the ACK/NACK are carried on the PUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCHcan be transmitted in the PUCCH group, or the ACK/NACK is carried on thePUCCH on the carrier where the PUCCH can be transmitted in the PUCCHgroup but the periodic CSI transmission is discarded.

Further, when the UE is configured not to simultaneously transmit PUCCHand PUSCH in different PUCCH groups, whether the periodic CSItransmission and/or the ACK/NACK transmission is discarded is ultimatelydetermined according to transmission conditions of other PUCCH groups.

Further, when the UE is configured not to simultaneously transmit PUCCHand PUSCH in different PUCCH groups, whether the periodic CSItransmission is discarded is ultimately determined according totransmission conditions of other PUCCH groups.

According to each manner in the embodiment, when the downlink carriercorresponding to the periodic CSI is a carrier in the unlicensedspectrum, it may be further limited that periodic CSI transmission isdiscarded when there is no valid CSI for the downlink carrier in theunlicensed spectrum. For example, when a reference signal used for CSImeasurement is not transmitted in N ms on the downlink carrier in theunlicensed spectrum, it is determined that there is no valid CSI for theperiodic CSI this time, and periodic CSI transmission is discarded.Alternatively, there is no further limitation, and the periodic CSI maybe transmitted according to one of the manners above.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a first implementing manner of amethod in FIG. 1 applying to a second scenario according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The first implementing manner includes procedures as follows.

At block 3201, a UE receives a UL grant from a base station.

The UE detects the UL grant transmitted by the base station.

At block 3202, when the UE detects that all downlink carrierscorresponding to an aperiodic CSI trigger indication are unlicensedcarriers, a subframe where the PUSCH is transmitted is a subframe wherethe periodic CSI is fed back, and the UCI does not include the ACK/NACK,procedures in block 3202 a are performed; when the UE may not transmitPUSCH on any uplink carrier, the subframe where the PUSCH is transmittedis the subframe where the periodic CSI feedback is transmitted, and theUCI does not include the ACK/NACK, procedures in block 3202 b areperformed. The procedures in block 3202 b are same as those in block3002 b in FIG. 30.

At block 3202 a , the UE transmits the UCI according to any one of threemanners as follows.

In a first manner or a second manner, the periodic CSI may betransmitted on a corresponding carrier in a PUCCH group to which theperiodic CSI belongs, which is not related to whether there are validCSI measurement results for all unlicensed downlink carrierscorresponding to the triggered aperiodic CSI. In particular, a periodicCSI transmitting method is same as a first manner or a second manner inblock 3002 a in FIG. 30.

In a third method, the periodic CSI may be transmitted on acorresponding carrier in the PUCCH group to which the periodic CSIbelongs, which is related to whether there are valid CSI measurementresults for all unlicensed downlink carriers corresponding to thetriggered aperiodic CSI. In particular, when there is a valid CSImeasurement result for each unlicensed downlink carrier corresponding tothe triggered aperiodic CSI, the UE transmits the periodic CSI; whenthere is at least one valid CSI measurement result respectively for atleast one of all the unlicensed downlink carriers corresponding to thetriggered aperiodic CSI, the UE transmits the aperiodic CSI. Inparticular, a periodic CSI transmitting method is same as a third mannerin block 3002 a in FIG. 30.

The UE may in advance prepare a set of bits corresponding to PUSCHtransmission and periodic CSI transmission according to multipleconditions that may possibly occur, which is different from an exampleas shown in FIG. 30. That is because whether there are valid CSImeasurement results for all unlicensed downlink carriers correspondingto the aperiodic CSI may be determined before an uplink subframe wherethe scheduled aperiodic CSI is reported, and a time interval between atime when the UE determines whether there are valid CSI measurementresults for all the unlicensed downlink carriers corresponding to theaperiodic CSI and the uplink subframe where the scheduled aperiodic CSIis reported is no less than N1 subframes, wherein the N1 subframes are aminimum time delay from CSI measurement to CSI report. If a time delayfrom aperiodic CSI trigger to aperiodic CSI report is no more than theN1 subframes, the UE may determine whether there is a valid aperiodicCSI to be report when receiving an aperiodic CSI trigger signalling.Thus, the UE may prepare only one set of bits. But if the time delayfrom the aperiodic CSI trigger to the aperiodic CSI report is more thanthe N1 subframes, the UE may prepare multiple sets of bits correspondingto the PUSCH transmission and the periodic CSI transmission.

One of the three manners above may be set in specifications, or may besemi-statically configured by a higher layer.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating a second implementing manner of amethod in FIG. 1 applying to a second scenario according to anembodiment of the present invention. The second implementing mannerincludes procedures as follows.

At block 3301, a UE receives a UL grant from a base station.

The UE detects the UL grant transmitted by the base station.

At block 3302 a , when the UE detects that all downlink carrierscorresponding to an aperiodic CSI trigger indication are unlicensedcarriers, a subframe where the PUSCH is transmitted is a subframe wherethe periodic CSI is fed back, and the UCI includes the ACK/NACK,procedures in block 3302 a a are performed; when the UE may not transmitPUSCH on any uplink carrier, the subframe where the PUSCH is transmittedis the subframe where the periodic CSI feedback is transmitted, and theUCI includes the ACK/NACK, procedures in block 3302 b are performed. Theprocedures in block 3302 b are same as those in block 3102 b in FIG. 31.

At block 3302 a a, the UE transmits the UCI according to any one ofthree manners as follows.

In a first manner or a second manner, the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACKbelonging to a same PUCCH group with the periodic CSI may be transmittedon a corresponding carrier in the PUCCH group to which the periodic CSIand the ACK/NACK belong, which is not related to whether there are validCSI measurement results for all unlicensed downlink carrierscorresponding to the triggered aperiodic CSI. In particular, a periodicCSI and ACK/NACK transmitting method is same as a first manner or asecond manner in block 3102 a in FIG. 31.

In a third method, the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK belonging to a samePUCCH group with the periodic CSI may be transmitted on a correspondingcarrier in the PUCCH group to which the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACKbelong, which is related to whether there are valid CSI measurementresults for all unlicensed downlink carriers corresponding to thetriggered aperiodic CSI. In particular, when there is a valid CSImeasurement result for each unlicensed downlink carrier corresponding tothe triggered aperiodic CSI, the UE transmits the periodic CSI and theACK/NACK; when there is at least one valid CSI measurement resultrespectively for at least one of all the unlicensed downlink carrierscorresponding to the triggered aperiodic CSI, the UE transmits theaperiodic CSI and the ACK/NACK. In particular, a periodic CSI andACK/NACK transmitting method is same as a third manner in block 3102 ain FIG. 31.

The UE may in advance prepare a set of bits corresponding to PUSCHtransmission, periodic CSI transmission and ACK/NACK transmissionaccording to multiple conditions that may possibly occur, which isdifferent from an example as shown in FIG. 31. That is because whetherthere are valid CSI measurement results for all unlicensed downlinkcarriers corresponding to the aperiodic CSI may be determined before anuplink subframe where the scheduled aperiodic CSI is reported, and atime interval between a time when the UE determines whether there arevalid CSI measurement results for all the unlicensed downlink carrierscorresponding to the aperiodic CSI and the uplink subframe where thescheduled aperiodic CSI is reported is no less than N1 subframes,wherein the N1 subframes are a minimum time delay from CSI measurementto CSI report. If a time delay from aperiodic CSI trigger to aperiodicCSI report is no more than the N1 subframes, the UE may determinewhether there is a valid aperiodic CSI to be report when receiving anaperiodic CSI trigger signalling. Thus, the UE may prepare only one setof bits. But if the time delay from the aperiodic CSI trigger to theaperiodic CSI report is more than the N1 subframes, the UE may preparemultiple sets of bits corresponding to the PUSCH transmission, theperiodic CSI transmission and the ACK/NACK transmission.

One of the three manners above may be set in specifications, or may besemi-statically configured by a higher layer.

According to each manner in the embodiment, when the downlink carriercorresponding to the periodic CSI is a carrier in the unlicensedspectrum, it may be further limited that periodic CSI transmission isdiscarded when there is no valid CSI for the downlink carrier in theunlicensed spectrum. For example, when a reference signal used for CSImeasurement is not transmitted in N ms on the downlink carrier in theunlicensed spectrum, it is determined that there is no valid CSI for theperiodic CSI this time, and periodic CSI transmission is discarded.Alternatively, there is no further limitation, and the periodic CSI maybe transmitted according to one of the three manners above.

An uplink control information transmission controlling method isprovided according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shownin FIG. 34, the method includes procedures as follows.

At block 3400, a base station performs SCellIndex configuration for asecondary carrier, wherein when the base station configures multiplecarriers for a UE, the base station configures that a SCellIndex of acarrier in a licensed spectrum is smaller than a SCellIndex of anycarrier in an unlicensed spectrum, or performs scheduling configurationfor the UE, wherein the scheduling configuration includes preferablyscheduling transmission on a carrier in a licensed spectrum in an uplinksubframe where the UE has a possibility to transmit UCI, or preferablyscheduling transmission on a licensed carrier for a triggered aperiodicCSI report when the base station triggers the UE to transmit theaperiodic CSI report.

At block 3401, the base station transmits a SCellIndex configurationsignalling according to the configuration, or transmitting a UL grantaccording to the configuration.

An uplink control information transmission controlling base station isfurther provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 35, the base station includes a configuring module and atransmitting module.

The configuring module is to perform secondary cell index (SCellIndex )configuration for a secondary carrier, wherein when the base stationconfigures multiple carriers for a UE, the base station configures thata SCellIndex of a carrier in a licensed spectrum is smaller than aSCellIndex of any carrier in an unlicensed spectrum, or performsscheduling configuration for the UE, wherein the schedulingconfiguration includes preferably scheduling transmission on a carrierin a licensed spectrum in an uplink subframe where the UE has apossibility to transmit UCI, or preferably scheduling transmission on alicensed carrier for a triggered aperiodic Channel State Information(CSI) report when the base station triggers the UE to transmit theaperiodic CSI report.

The transmitting module is to transmit a SCellIndex configurationsignalling according to the configuration, or transmit an uplink (UL)grant according to the configuration.

An aperiodic CSI measurement and report method is provided according toan embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 36 is a flowchartillustrating an aperiodic CSI measurement and report method according toan embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 36, the methodincludes procedures as follows.

At block 3601, a UE receives an aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling.

At block 3602, according to a CSI process processing capability of theUE and the number of CSI processes neither updated nor reported beforereceiving the aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling, the UE determinesa CSI process which can be updated in CSI processes indicated by theaperiodic CSI report trigger signalling, and updates a CSI measurementresult for the CSI process which can be updated.

At block 3603, the UE transmits a CSI report to the base station.

In block 3602, the CSI process processing capability of the UE mayinclude:

(1) the UE supports N_(x) CSI processes at most for each carrier;

(2) the UE simultaneously supports N_(y) CSI processes at most; the CSIprocesses may be for a same carrier, or may be for different carriers;the CSI processes may be for a same carrier group, or may be fordifferent carriers groups;

(3) the UE supports N_(z) CSI processes at most; the CSI processes maybe for a same carrier, or may be for different carriers; the CSIprocesses may be for a same carrier group, or may be for differentcarriers.

In some scenarios, the UE processing capability is only limited byN_(x), e.g., in a single-carrier scenario or a single-carrier-groupscenario. In some scenarios, the UE processing capability is onlylimited by N_(y), e.g., if a transmission mode (e.g., a transmissionmode 9) configured for the UE does not support multiple CSI processes,In some scenarios, the UE processing capability is only limited byN_(z). In some scenarios, the UE processing capability is limited bymultiple processing capabilities, e.g., N_(x) and N_(y), e.g., if thereare multiple carrier groups and the UE is configured with a transmissionmode 10.

All possible conditions are supported in the present invention.

In block 3602, according to the CSI process processing capability of theUE for each carrier N_(x) and the number of CSI processes neitherupdated nor reported for the carrier before receiving the aperiodic CSIreport trigger signalling N_(u), the UE determines that the number ofCSI processes which can be updated in CSI processes indicated by theaperiodic CSI report trigger signalling N_(left) _(_) _(u) is equal tomax(N_(x)-N_(u), 0). The N_(left) _(_)CSI processes have N_(left)_(_)highest priorities determined according to a pre-defined priorityrule. The pre-defined priority rule includes:

the smaller an index of a CSI process, the higher a priority of the CSIprocess, and/or

a priority of a CSI process corresponding to a valid CSI resource ishigher than that of a CSI process corresponding to an invalid CSIresource.

In block 3602, the CSI processes neither updated nor reported beforereceiving the aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling N_(u) do notinclude a CSI process CSI of which has been calculated, but is notreported to the base station because the uplink signal can betransmitted to the base station in the uplink subframe where the CSI isreported, e.g. the UE fails to access the channel in that uplinksubframe due to the failure of CCA check; and/or the additional CSIupdating capability N_(left) _(_) _(u) does not include a CSI processCSI of which has been calculated, but is not reported to the basestation because the uplink signal can be transmitted to the base stationin the uplink subframe where the CSI is reported. When the aperiodic CSIreport triggered by the base station at next time includes a CSI processthat has been updated but is not reported, the UE may not re-update theCSI process, and may update a CSI process neither updated nor reportedaccording to a pre-defined priority rule. In particular, the CSI processnot re-updated is not counted into the number of CSI processes updatedbased on CSI process updating capability of the UE.

Further, the UE determines whether a CSI process CSI of which has beencalculated but is not reported is re-updated according to one of thefollowing two methods.

In a first method, when there is no new reference signal used for CSImeasurement in a pre-defined time window, the UE may not re-update theCSI process, i.e., the CSI process is not included in CSI processesneither updated nor reported, wherein the reference signal used for theCSI measurement includes a signal for channel measurement andinterference measurement; Otherwise, the UE still updates the CSIprocess, i.e., the CSI process is included in the CSI processes neitherupdated nor reported. The CSI process is counted into the number of CSIprocesses updated based on the CSI process updating capability of theUE.

The pre-define time window includes A subframes after the UE receives anaperiodic CSI report trigger signalling including the CSI process and Bsubframes before the UE receives the aperiodic CSI report triggersignalling including the CSI process again, wherein A and B arepre-defined values, e.g., A is equal to zero, and B is equal to zero. Inparticular, the pre-defined time window starts from a subframe where theaperiodic CSI report trigger signalling including the CSI process isreceived, and ends in a subframe where the aperiodic CSI report triggersignalling including the CSI process is received again. Alternatively, Ais defined as a time window starting point, i.e., a subframe when the UEreports the CSI, or a subframe where the UE finishes CSI calculation.

Preferably, whether there is the new reference signal used for the CSImeasurement is determined according to a UE detection result. Inparticular, when the UE detects a reference signal used for the CSImeasurement, the UE determines that there is the new reference signalused for CSI measurement; when the UE does not detect a reference signalused for the CSI measurement, the UE determines that there is no newreference signal used for CSI measurement. The UE may detect thereference signal used for the CSI measurement through detecting aphysical signalling or through detecting a reference signal.

Preferably, whether there is the new reference signal used for the CSImeasurement is determined by a periodic CSI resource configured by thebase station. In particular, only when there is no periodic CSI resourceconfigured by the base station for the CSI process in the time window,the CSI process is not counted into the number of CSI processes updatedbased on the CSI process updating capability of the UE. Otherwise, whenthere is the periodic CSI resource configured by the base station in thetime window, even though the base station does not transmits the CSIresource because the base station does not obtain a channel or eventhough the base station transmits the CSI resource but the UE does notdetect the CSI resource, the CSI process is included in CSI processesupdated according to the CSI process processing capability of the UE.However, whether the CSI process is updated may be determined accordingto whether the UE detects the reference signal used for the CSImeasurement.

In a second method, the UE does not re-update the CSI process no matterwhether there is the new reference signal used for the CSI measurementafter updating the CSI process and before receiving the aperiodic CSIreport trigger signalling including the CSI process again.

Take two detail examples respectively to describe the first method andthe second method.

In an example, it is assumed that N_(x) is equal to 3. At m1, the basestation triggers a first aperiodic CSI report including three CSIprocesses 2, 3, 5 for CC1, the UE may not transmit the first aperiodicCSI report at m1+4, but has performed calculation for CSI processes 2,3, 5. At m2, the base station triggers a second aperiodic CSI reportincluding five CSI processes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 for the CC1, wherein m2 islarger than (m1+4). The base station configures CSI resourcescorresponding to CSI process 2 and CSI process 5 between m1 and m2, butdoes not configure CSI resource corresponding to CSI process 3.

According to the first method, if the UE detects CSI resourcescorresponding to CSI processes 2, 5 between m1 and m2, when the UEreceives a signalling used to trigger the second aperiodic CSI report atm2, the UE re-updates the CSI process 2, updates CSI processes 1, 4, anddoes not update CSI processes 3, 6. When the UE obtains a channel atm2+4, the UE transmits the PUSCH at m2+4, and transmits the secondaperiodic CSI report carried on the PUSCH, wherein the second aperiodicCSI report includes CSI results of the updated CSI processes 1, 2, 4 andCSI results of the CSI processes 3, 6 not updated. It should be notedthat, a reason why CSI process 3 is not updated is different from thatof CSI process 6. The CSI result of the CSI process 3 is the CSI resultupdated after the UE receives the signalling used to trigger the firstaperiodic CSI report at m1. Afterwards, there is no new CSI resource forthe CSI process 3, thus, a latest CSI result is the CSI result updatedafter the UE receives the signalling used to trigger the first aperiodicCSI report at m1. The CSI result of CSI process 6 is the CSI resultupdated after the UE receives the signalling used to trigger the secondaperiodic CSI report at m2. There is a new CSI resource after the UEreports the second aperiodic CSI report, the UE does not update the CSIresult of CSI process 6 based on the new CSI resource because of UEprocessing capability limitation.

According to the second method 2, even though CSI resourcescorresponding to CSI processes 2, 5 are detected between m1 and m2, theUE does not update the CSI results based on the new CSI resources, butupdates CSI processes 1, 4, 6 in the second aperiodic CSI report. Whenthe UE obtains the channel at m2+4, the UE transmits the PUSCH and thesecond aperiodic CSI report carried on the PUSCH at m2+4, wherein thesecond aperiodic CSI report includes CSI results of updated CSIprocesses 1, 4, 6 and CSI results of CSI processes 2, 3 not updated,wherein the CSI results of CSI processes 2, 3 are the CSI resultsupdated after the UE receives the signalling used to trigger the firstaperiodic CSI report at m1, which is not re-updated. The process aboveis illustrated in FIG. 37 (LTE-U system works in a TDM mode in uplinkand downlink, and an uplink carrier and a downlink carrier in LTE-Usystem are a same carrier, but in order to make figure illustrationconvenient, the uplink carrier and the downlink carrier are separatelyillustrated in FIGS. 37-42). FIG. 37 is a schematic diagram illustratinga subframe structure in a first example to determine when the UE hascalculated but does not report CSI of a CSI process, whether the UEre-updates the CSI process according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

In another example, it is assumed that N_(x) is equal to 3. At m1, thebase station triggers a first aperiodic CSI report including three CSIprocesses 2, 3, 5 for CC1, the UE does not transmit the first aperiodicCSI report at m1+4, but has performed calculation for CSI processes 2,3, 5. At m1+4, the base station triggers a second aperiodic CSI reportincluding two CSI processes 1, 4 for the CC1. When the base stationdetects that the UE does not transmit PUSCH at m1+4, the base stationre-triggers the first aperiodic CSI report at m2, wherein m2 is largerthan m1+4, but is smaller than m1+8. There is no CSI resource for CSIprocesses 2, 3 but there is a CSI resource for CSI process 5 between m1and m2.

When receiving a signalling used to trigger the second aperiodic CSIreport, the UE starts to calculate CSI of CSI process 1, CSI of CSIprocess 4, and CSI of CSI process 6. When neither of the CSI of CSIprocess 1, the CSI of CSI process 4 and the CSI of CSI process 6 is notreported at m2, i.e., N_(u) is equal to two, and the UE receives asignalling used to re-trigger the first aperiodic CSI report from thebase station at m2, the number of CSI processes which can be updated bythe UE N_(left) _(_) _(u) is equal to max (N_(x)-N_(u), 0), i.e., 1.According to prior art, the UE updates a CSI process with the smallestCSI process index in CSI processes 2, 3, 4, i.e., the CSI process 2.However, there is no CSI resource for CSI processes 2, 3 between m1 andm2 when the two first aperiodic CSI reports are triggered. Thus,according to the first method, the UE does not update CSI processes 2,3, and the additional processing capability for one CSI process N_(left)_(_) _(u) is used to update CSI process 5. FIG. 38 is a schematicdiagram illustrating a subframe structure in a second example todetermine when the UE has calculated but does not report CSI of a CSIprocess, whether the UE re-updates the CSI process according to anembodiment of the present invention.

In block 3602, according to the CSI process processing capability N_(y),different carriers or different carrier groups corresponding to CSIprocesses and CSI processes neither updated nor reported beforereceiving the aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling, the UE determinesthe number of CSI processes which can be updated in CSI processesindicated by the aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling N*_(y). Thenumber of CSI processes which can be updated for a single carrier isequal to min (N_(y), N_(x)-N_(u)). The largest number of CSI processeswhich can be updated in all carriers indicated in the aperiodic CSIreport trigger signalling is equal to N_(y). The CSI processes which canbe updated N_(y) do not include a CSI process CSI of which has beencalculated, but is not reported to the base station because the uplinksignal can be transmitted to the base station in the uplink subframewhere the CSI is reported.

In particular, when the number of simultaneous CSI processescorresponding to the aperiodic CSI report triggered by the base stationexceeds the UE process processing capability N_(y), the UE sorts the CSIprocesses according to pre-defined priorities, and updates N_(y) CSIprocesses with N_(y) highest priorities. The UE does not re-update a CSIprocess that has been updated but is not reported. In particular,according to the pre-defined priorities, the UE sorts the CSI processesnot including the CSI process that has been updated but is not reported,and updates the N_(y) CSI processes with N_(y) highest prioritiesaccording to a pre-defined priority rule. The priority rule includes:

the smaller an index of a CSI process, the higher a priority of the CSIprocess, and/or

a priority of a CSI process corresponding to a valid CSI resource ishigher than that of a CSI process corresponding to an invalid CSIresource.

When the UE has updated but does not report CSI of a CSI process, the UEmay determine whether the CSI process is re-updated according to amethod described above, which is not described repeatedly herein.

A method in block 3602 may apply to a single-carrier system, or mayapply to a multiple-carrier system. In the multiple-carrier system, amethod in block 3602 not only applies to a system with only one carriergroup, but also applies to a system with multiple carrier groups. Takethe system with multiple carrier groups as an example for description.

It is assumed that both N_(x) and N_(y) are equal to 5. At m1, carriergroup 1 triggers a first aperiodic CSI report (CSI processes 2, 3, 5 forcarrier 1). The UE has performed calculation for CSI processes 2, 3, 5,but does not transmit the first aperiodic CSI report at m1+4. At m2,carrier group 1 re-triggers the first aperiodic CSI report (CSIprocesses 2, 3, 5 for carrier 1), and carrier group 2 simultaneouslytriggers a second aperiodic CSI report (CSI processes 1, 2, 3, 4 forcarrier 2). It is assumed there is no CSI process neither updated norreported in any of carrier 1 and carrier 2, i.e., N_(u) is equal tozero. The number of CSI processes which can be updated for carrier 1 orcarrier 2 N_(left) _(_) _(u) is equal to max (N_(x) -N_(u), 0), i.e., 5.However, the largest number of the CSI processes which can besimultaneously updated for the two carriers is no more than 5. The UEmay not re-update CSI processes 2, 3, 5 for carrier 1, and may updateCSI processes 1, 2, 3, 4 for carrier group 2 according to pre-definedpriorities. FIG. 39 is a schematic diagram illustrating a subframestructure in a third example to determine when the UE has calculated butdoes not report CSI of a CSI process in a condition with multiplecarrier groups, whether the UE re-updates the CSI process according toan embodiment of the present invention.

In another example, after the UE updates the CSI processes and beforethe UE receives the aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling includingthe CSI processes again, there is new CSI resource for CSI processes 2,5 for carrier group 1 but there is no CSI resource for CSI process 3.The UE does not update CSI process 3. Whether the UE updates CSIprocesses 2, 5 are determined jointly considering CSI processes 1, 2, 3,4 for carrier group 2. According to pre-defined priorities, five CSIprocesses in the six CSI processes are updated. For example, accordingto CSI process indexes, CSI process 2 for the carrier group 1 and CSIprocesses 1, 2, 3, 4 for carrier group 2 are updated. When the UEobtains channels respectively on uplink carrier 1 and uplink carrier 2at m2+4, the UE respectively transmits a result of updated CSI process 2for carrier group 1, results of CSI processes 3, 5 not updated forcarrier group 1, and results of updated CSI processes 1, 2, 3, 4 forcarrier group 2. The results of CSI processes 3, 5 for carrier group 1are updated after the UE receives a signalling used to trigger a firstaperiodic CSI report at m1. FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram illustratinga subframe structure in a fourth example to determine when the UE hascalculated but does not report CSI of a CSI process in a condition withmultiple carrier groups, whether the UE re-updates the CSI processaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Further, when the method applies to the system with multiple carriergroups, in block 3602, the UE updates a CSI measurement result for a CSIprocess which can be updated according to a pre-defined priority rule.The priority rule includes:

a priority of a CSI process a CSI report of which is fed back in alicensed spectrum is higher than a priority of a CSI process a CSIreport of which is fed back in an unlicensed spectrum.

For example, N_(y) are equal to 5 (a limitation introduced by capabilityN_(x) is not considered herein). At m1, carrier group 1 triggers a firstaperiodic CSI report (CSI processes 2, 3, 5 for down carrier 1). The UEfeeds the first aperiodic CSI report back on uplink carrier 1 at m1+4,wherein the uplink carrier 1 is a carrier in the licensed spectrum. Atm1, carrier group 2 triggers a second aperiodic CSI report (CSIprocesses 1, 2, 3, 4 for carrier 2), the UE feeds the second aperiodicCSI report back on uplink carrier 2 at m1+4, wherein the uplink carrier2 is a carrier in the unlicensed spectrum. Since the uplink carrier 1 isthe licensed carrier, the UE has to transmit the first aperiodic CSIreport on uplink carrier 1 at m1+4.

Since the uplink carrier 2 is the unlicensed carrier, when the uplinkcarrier 2 is busy, the UE does not feed the second aperiodic CSI reportback on the uplink carrier 2 at m1+4. According to the priority rule, apriority of a CSI process corresponding to the CSI report carried on theuplink carrier 1 is higher than a priority of a CSI processcorresponding to the CSI report carried in the uplink carrier 2. Thus, apriority of CSI processes 2, 3, 5 for carrier 1 corresponding to thefirst aperiodic CSI report 1 is higher than a priority of CSI processes1, 2, 3 and 4 for carrier 2 corresponding to the second aperiodic CSIreport. Thus, the UE preferably updates CSI processes 2, 3, 5 for thecarrier 1 and two CSI processes for carrier 2. The updated two CSIprocesses may be selected from the four CSI processes for carrier 2according to another priority rule. FIG. 41 is a schematic diagramillustrating a subframe structure in a fifth example to determine whenthe UE has calculated but does not report CSI of a CSI process in acondition with multiple carrier groups, whether the UE re-updates theCSI process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

It should be noted that, a concept “CSI process” applies to existingtransmission mode 10, or enhanced transmission modes later. For existingtransmission modes 1 to 9, each carrier have only one CSI process, andit is considered that the CSI process index is equal to 0.

In all methods above, an aperiodic CSI report is taken as example fordescription. The methods above may also apply to a periodic CSI in acondition that the UE processing capability is limited. In particular,when the number of CSI processes for which CSI measurement is in demandexceeds the UE processing capability N, the UE sorts the CSI processesaccording to per-defined priorities, and updates N CSI processes with Nhighest priorities. When the UE has updated but does not report a CSIprocess, the UE does not re-update the CSI process. In particular, theUE sorts CSI processes not including the process that has been updatedbut is not reported by the UE according to pre-defined priorities, andupdates N CSI processes with N highest priorities.

In block 3603, the UE transmits the CSI report to the base stationaccording to any one of two methods as follows.

In a first method, the UE reports CSI results of all CSI processesindicated in the aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling received inblock 3601.

In a second method, the UE only reports a CSI result of a CSI processindicated in the aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling received inblock 3601 and has a valid CSI measurement result.

In the second method for reporting an aperiodic CSI report, the UEfurther transmits indication information to the base station to notifyto the base station a CSI process index of a reported CSI process for anunlicensed carrier or a carrier index of the unlicensed carriercorresponding to the reported CSI process. The indication information isindependently encoded with the aperiodic CSI report. For example, theindication information may be transmitted in an OFDM symbol closest to areference signal, such as demodulation RS. For example, the indicationinformation may be transmitted in an OFDM symbol of an existing RI,which is firstly mapped to the indication channel from a PUSCH button,and then is mapped to the RI. The indication information isindependently encoded with the RI. The bit number of the indicationinformation N may be fixed, or may be configured by a higher layer, ormay be determined according to a pre-defined rule, e.g., N is determinedaccording to the number of configured unlicensed carriers triggered bythe aperiodic CSI report request or the number of CSI processes inunlicensed band triggered by the aperiodic CSI report request.Preferably, N bits may dynamically indicate 2^(N) combinations.

Preferably, N bits may dynamically indicate 2^(N) higher-layerconfiguration combinations.

For example, five carriers are configured for the UE, wherein CC1 andCC2 are licensed carriers, and CC3 to CC5 are unlicensed carriers. It isassumed that the bit number of indication information N is equal to 3.‘000’ indicates that no CSI of any unlicensed carrier is reported by theUE, ‘001’ to ‘011’ respectively indicate that the UE reports CSI of oneunlicensed carrier, ‘100’ to ‘110’ respectively indicate that the UEreports CSI of two unlicensed carriers, and ‘111’ indicates that the UEreports CSI of three unlicensed carriers. It is assumed that a value ofa CSI request field of ‘10’ indicates that CSI process set 1 includeslicensed carriers CC1, CC2 and unlicensed carrier CC3, the value of theCSI request field of ‘11’ indicates that CSI process set 2 includeslicensed carriers CC1, CC2 and unlicensed carriers CC3 to CC5. FIG. 42is a schematic diagram illustrating a second method for transmitting aCSI report from a UE to a base station in a condition with multiplecarriers according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shownin FIG. 42, when the UE receives the value of the CSI request field‘11’, and determines that a valid CSI resource is only transmitted onunlicensed carrier CC3, the UE reports CSI of licensed carriers CC1, CC2and unlicensed carrier CC3, and sets the indication information as ‘001’to indicate that CSI of only CC3 is reported in the unlicensed carriers.Alternatively, the bit number of the indication information N is equalto 2 for CSI process set 2 and N is equal to 1 for CSI process set 1.Thus, in this example, the indication information as “01” indicates thatCSI of only CC3 is reported in the unlicensed carriers.

It should be noted that the enhanced method for reporting an aperiodicCSI report may be used together with an existing method for reporting anaperiodic CSI report, for example, step 3601 and step 3603 could be usedwith existing method for step 3602, or may be used together with anotherenhanced method for reporting an aperiodic CSI report, for example, step3603 could be used with other new method to trigger aperiodic CSI instep 3601 and existing method for step 3602.

It should be noted that this method may also apply to a periodic CSIreport. For example, when the periodic CSI of multiple CSI processes istransmitted in a same subframe, according to pre-defined priorities,when a priority of the periodic CSI of CC1 is higher than a priority ofthe periodic CSI of CC2 but the CSI resource is not successfullytransmitted on the CC1 in a time window, the UE does not transmit theperiodic CSI of the CC1, but transmits the periodic CSI of the CC2.Thus, the UE notifies to the base station to which CC the reported CSIcorresponds. The method may be used only when the priority of the CSI ofthe unlicensed carrier is higher than the priority of the CSI of thelicensed carrier or when priorities of CSI of multiple unlicensedcarriers are compared with each other. The UE may independently encodethe indication information and the periodic CSI report. Thus, the basestation may firstly decode the indication information, and then maydetermine detail content of the periodic CSI report according to theindication information.

The foregoing is only preferred examples of the present invention and isnot used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Anymodification, equivalent substitution and improvement without departingfrom the spirit and principle of the present invention are within theprotection scope of the present invention.

1. An uplink control information (UCI) transmitting method, applying toa user equipment (UE) configured with an uplink carrier in an unlicensedspectrum, comprising: detecting, by the UE, an uplink (UL) grant from abase station; transmitting, by the UE, UCI through a pre-definedlocation and a predefined format in a licensed spectrum and/or apre-defined location and a pre-defined format in an idle unlicensedspectrum according to the UL grant and the UCI to be transmitted.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein when the UE is configured to havesimultaneous Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) and Physical UplinkShared Channel (PUSCH) transmission, the process of the UE transmittingthe UCI through the pre-defined location and the pre-defined format inthe licensed spectrum and/or the pre-defined location and thepre-defined format in the idle unlicensed spectrum according to the ULgrant and the UCI to be transmitted comprises: if a carrier with asmallest secondary cell index (SCellIndex ) in the UL grant is anunlicensed carrier according to the UL grant, the UE does not detect aUL grant scheduling a PUSCH of a Primary cell (Pcell) or a secondaryPrimary cell (sPcell), and UCI includes Acknowledgement/NegativeAcknowledgement (ACK/NACK) and periodic Channel State Information (CSI);or if the carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the detected UL grantis the unlicensed carrier according to the UL grant, the UE does notdetect the UL grant scheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell or the sPcell,there is no determined PUSCH, and the UCI includes the ACK/NACK and theperiodic CSI; or if a carrier with a smallest SCellIndex in carriersdetermined to be used for PUSCH transmission is the unlicensed carrier,the UE does not detect the UL grant scheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell orthe sPcell, and the UCI includes the ACK/NACK and the periodic CSI; orif the carrier with the smallest SCellIndex in the carriers determinedto be used for PUSCH transmission is the unlicensed carrier, the UE doesnot detect the UL grant scheduling the PUSCH of the Pcell or the sPcell,there is no determined PUSCH, and the UCI includes the ACK/NACK and theperiodic CSI, performing any one of the following procedures to transmitthe UCI through the pre-defined location and the pre-defined format inthe licensed spectrum and/or the pre-defined location and thepre-defined format in the idle unlicensed spectrum: transmitting, by theUE, the UCI carried on the PUCCH on the Pcell or sPcell, and/ortransmitting a scheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum, andtransmitting the scheduled PUSCH on an idle carrier in the unlicensedspectrum; transmitting, by the UE, the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI inthe licensed spectrum, transmitting the scheduled PUSCH on the idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum; or if there is no scheduled PUSCH inthe licensed spectrum, transmitting the UCI carried on the PUCCH on thePcell or the sPcell, transmitting the scheduled PUSCH on the idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum; or if there is no scheduled PUSCH inthe licensed spectrum, not transmitting the UCI, only transmitting thescheduled PUSCH on the idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum;transmitting, by the UE, the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI in the licensedspectrum, transmitting the scheduled PUSCH on the idle carrier in theunlicensed spectrum; or transmitting the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI onthe idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum if there is no scheduledPUSCH in licensed spectrum; and transmitting, by the UE, the scheduledPUSCH and the UCI on the idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum,transmitting the scheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein the UE transmitting the UCI carried on the PUCCH onthe Pcell or sPcell, and/or transmitting a scheduled PUSCH in thelicensed spectrum, and transmitting the scheduled PUSCH on the idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum comprises: carrying the ACK/NACK andperiodic CSI on the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell, transmitting aPUSCH only including an Uplink Shared Channel (UL-SCH) on the scheduledidle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum, transmitting a PUSCH onlyincluding the UL-SCH on the scheduled carrier in the licensed spectrumwhen there is a scheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum; or accordingto a total load of the ACK/NACK and the periodic CSI, selecting thePUCCH to carry the ACK/NACK and the periodic CSI, or selecting the PUCCHto carry the ACK/NACK and selecting the PUSCH to carry the periodic CSI.4. The method of claim 2, wherein the UE transmitting the scheduledPUSCH and the UCI in the licensed spectrum, transmitting the scheduledPUSCH on the idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum; or if there is noscheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum, transmitting the UCI carriedon the PUCCH on the Pcell or the sPcell, transmitting the scheduledPUSCH on the idle carrier in the unlicensed spectrum; or if there is noscheduled PUSCH in the licensed spectrum, not transmitting the UCI, onlytransmitting the scheduled PUSCH on the idle carrier in the unlicensedspectrum comprises: if the periodic CSI is carried on the PUSCH,carrying the periodic CSI on the PUCCH on a carrier in the licensedspectrum, wherein the carrier on which the PUSCH is transmitted has thesmallest SCellIndex in carriers in the licensed spectrum; if there is noPUSCH transmission in the licensed spectrum, discarding periodic CSItransmission, or carrying the periodic CSI and the ACK/NACK on the PUCCHon the Pcell or the sPcell.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the UEtransmitting the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI in the licensed spectrum,transmitting the scheduled PUSCH on the idle carrier in the unlicensedspectrum; or transmitting the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI on the idlecarrier in the unlicensed spectrum if there is no scheduled PUSCH inlicensed spectrum comprises: carrying the periodic CSI on the PUSCH on acarrier in the licensed spectrum, wherein the carrier on which the PUSCHis transmitted has a smallest SCellIndex in carriers in the licensedspectrum; if there is no PUSCH transmission in the licensed spectrum,carrying the periodic CSI on the PUSCH transmitted in the unlicensedspectrum according to a preset rule, or carrying the period CSIrespectively on PUSCHs transmitted on all carriers or pre-configuredcarriers in the unlicensed spectrum; wherein carrying the periodic CSIon the PUSCH transmitted in the unlicensed spectrum according to thepreset rule comprises: carrying the periodic CSI on the PUSCHtransmitted on an uplink carrier with a smallest SCellIndex in uplinkcarriers in the unlicensed spectrum.
 6. The method of claim 2, whereinthe UE transmitting the scheduled PUSCH and the UCI on the idle carrierin the unlicensed spectrum and transmitting the scheduled PUSCH in thelicensed spectrum comprises: carrying the periodic CSI on the PUSCHtransmitted on an uplink carrier with a smallest SCellIndex in uplinkcarriers used for transmission.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein theUCI comprises periodic CSI, the pre-defined location comprises asubframe where the periodic CSI is reported, when the UCI furthercomprises aperiodic CSI in the same subframe and an uplink carriercarrying the aperiodic CSI is in the unlicensed spectrum, transmittingthe periodic CSI on a carrier in the licensed spectrum, transmitting theaperiodic CSI in the unlicensed spectrum if the unlicensed spectrum isidle; or only transmitting, by the UE, the periodic CSI on an uplinkcarrier in the licensed spectrum when the uplink carrier carrying theaperiodic CSI in the unlicensed spectrum is not used for transmission inthe same subframe.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the UCI comprisesperiodic CSI, the pre-defined location comprises a subframe where theperiodic CSI is reported, when the UCI in the same subframe furthercomprises aperiodic CSI and all downlink carriers corresponding to theaperiodic CSI are carriers in the unlicensed spectrum, transmitting theperiodic CSI on the licensed spectrum, transmitting the aperiodic CSI ona carrier in the licensed spectrum if the carrier carrying the aperiodicCSI is in the licensed spectrum, transmitting the aperiodic CSI on acarrier in the unlicensed spectrum if the carrier carrying the aperiodicCSI is idle and in the unlicensed spectrum; or only transmitting, by theUE, the periodic CSI on a carrier in the licensed carrier if there is novalid CSI measurement result for any downlink unlicensed carriercorresponding to the aperiodic CSI in the same subframe.
 9. The methodof claim 1, wherein the UCI further comprises aperiodic CSI, the ULgrant comprises an aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling; before theUE transmits the UCI, further comprising: determining, by the UE, thenumber of CSI processes can be updated in CSI processes indicated by theaperiodic CSI report trigger signalling according to CSI processprocessing capability and the number of CSI processes neither updatednor reported before the UE receives the aperiodic CSI report triggersignalling, updating CSI measurement results for the CSI process can beupdated, wherein the transmitted UCI is a CSI report.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the CSI process processing capability comprises a CSIprocess processing capability for each carrier N_(x), the process of theUE determining the number of the CSI processes can be updated in the CSIprocesses indicated by the aperiodic CSI report trigger signallingcomprises: according to the CSI process processing capability for eachcarrier N_(x) and the number of CSI processes neither updated norreported for the carrier before the UE receives the aperiodic CSI reporttrigger signalling N_(u), determining, by the UE, that the number of theCSI processes can be updated for the carrier in the CSI processesindicated by the aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling N_(left) _(_)_(u) is equal to (N_(x)-N_(u), 0); wherein the N_(left) _(_) _(u) CSIprocesses comprise N_(left) _(_) _(u) CSI processes with N_(left) _(—u)highest priorities determined according to a pre-defined priority rule.11. The method of claim 10, wherein the CSI processes neither updatednor reported for the carrier before the UE receives the aperiodic CSIreport trigger signalling N_(u) do not comprise a CSI process for thecarrier CSI of which is calculated, but is not reported to the basestation since an uplink signal can be transmitted to the base station inthe uplink subframe where the CSI is reported; and/or the CSI processescan be updated for the carrier in the CSI processes indicated by theaperiodic CSI report trigger signalling N_(left) _(_) _(u) do notcomprise a CSI process for the carrier CSI of which is calculated, butis not reported to the base station since an uplink signal can betransmitted to the base station in an uplink subframe where the CSI ofthe carrier is reported.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the CSIprocess processing capability comprises a capability for simultaneouslyprocessing CSI processes N_(y), wherein the CSI processes simultaneouslyprocessed corresponds to different carriers or different carrier groups;the process of the UE determining the number of the CSI processes can beupdated in CSI processes indicated by the aperiodic CSI report triggersignalling comprises: according to the capability for simultaneouslyprocessing CSI processes N_(y), determining, by the UE, the number ofthe CSI processes can be updated in the CSI processes indicated by theaperiodic CSI report trigger signalling; wherein the CSI processes canbe updated in the CSI processes indicated by the aperiodic CSI reporttrigger signalling N_(y) do not comprise a CSI process CSI of which iscalculated, but is not reported to the base station since an uplinksignal can be transmitted to the base station in the uplink subframewhere the CSI is reported.
 13. The method of claim 9, the CSI processprocessing capability comprises a CSI process processing capability foreach carrier N_(x) and a capability for simultaneously processing CSIprocesses N_(y), wherein the CSI processes simultaneously processedcorresponds to different carriers or different carrier groups; theprocess of the UE determining the number of the CSI processes can beupdated in CSI processes indicated by the aperiodic CSI report triggersignalling comprises: according to the capability for simultaneouslyprocessing CSI processes N_(y), the CSI process processing capabilityfor each carrier , and the number of CSI processes neither updated norreported for the carrier before the UE receives the aperiodic CSI reporttrigger signalling N_(u), determining, by the UE, the number of the CSIprocesses can be updated in the CSI processes indicated by the aperiodicCSI report trigger signalling; the CSI processes neither updated norreported for the carrier before the UE receives the aperiodic CSI reporttrigger signalling N_(u) do not comprise a CSI process for the carrierCSI of which is calculated, but is not reported to the base stationsince an uplink signal can be transmitted to the base station in theuplink subframe where the CSI is reported; and/or the CSI processes canbe updated for the carrier in the CSI processes indicated by theaperiodic CSI report trigger signalling do not comprise a CSI processfor the carrier CSI of which is calculated, but is not reported to thebase station since an uplink signal can be transmitted to the basestation in the uplink subframe where the CSI is reported; and/or the CSIprocesses can be updated in the CSI processes indicated by the aperiodicCSI report trigger signalling N_(y) do not comprise a CSI process CSI ofwhich is calculated, but is not reported to the base station since anuplink signal can be transmitted in the uplink subframe where the CSI isreported.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein when the CSI processesindicated by the aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling corresponds tomultiple carriers, the CSI measurement results for the CSI processes canbe updated are updated according to a pre-defined priority rule, whereinthe pre-defined priority rule comprises: a priority of a CSI process aCSI report of which is fed back in a licensed spectrum is higher than apriority of a CSI process a CSI report of which is fed back in anunlicensed spectrum.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the CSI reportcomprises a CSI result of a CSI process that is in the CSI processesindicated by the aperiodic CSI report trigger signalling received by theUE and has a valid CSI measurement result.
 16. An uplink controlinformation (UCI) transmitting apparatus, comprising: a receivingmodule, to receive an uplink (UL) grant from a base station; a detectingmodule, to detect the UL grant; a determining module, to determine aconfigured uplink carrier in an unlicensed carrier; and a UCItransmitting module, to transmit UCI through a pre-defined location anda pre-defined format in a licensed spectrum and/or a pre-definedlocation and a pre-defined format in an idle unlicensed spectrumaccording to the UL grant and the UCI to be transmitted.
 17. An uplinkcontrol information (UCI) transmission controlling method, comprising:performing, by a base station, secondary cell index (SCellIndex )configuration for a secondary carrier, wherein when the base stationconfigures multiple carriers for a UE, the base station configures thata SCellIndex of a carrier in a licensed spectrum is smaller than aSCellIndex of any carrier in an unlicensed spectrum, or performsscheduling configuration for the UE, wherein the schedulingconfiguration includes preferably scheduling transmission on a carrierin a licensed spectrum in an uplink subframe where the UE has apossibility to transmit UCI, or preferably scheduling transmission on alicensed carrier for triggered aperiodic Channel State Information (CSI)when the base station triggers the UE to transmit the aperiodic CSI;transmitting, by the base station, a SCellIndex configuration signallingaccording to the configuration, or transmitting an uplink (UL) grantaccording to the configuration.
 18. An uplink control information (UCI)transmission controlling base station, comprising: a configuring module,to perform secondary cell index (SCellIndex ) configuration for asecondary carrier, wherein when the base station configures multiplecarriers for a UE, the base station configures that a SCellIndex of acarrier in a licensed spectrum is smaller than a SCellIndex of anycarrier in an unlicensed spectrum, or performs scheduling configurationfor the UE, wherein the scheduling configuration includes preferablyscheduling transmission on a carrier in a licensed spectrum in an uplinksubframe where the UE has a possibility to transmit UCI, or preferablyscheduling transmission on a licensed carrier for triggered aperiodicChannel State Information (CSI) when the base station triggers the UE totransmit the aperiodic CSI; a transmitting module, to transmit aSCellIndex configuration signalling according to the configuration, ortransmit a uplink (UL) grant according to the configuration.